Steve Kemp has been working on plan-making and place-making projects in the Caribbean for over 20 years. Steve was moved to act when he learned of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa and approached UNDP to propose a volunteer support programme, which is now being implemented with the Jamaican Government and other partners. 

Earlier this year, I wrote about an initiative to support Jamaica’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa, working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Government of Jamaica, and an international network of planning organisations. The aim was to create a practical mechanism through which planners in the UK, the Caribbean and internationally could offer targeted support to Jamaican colleagues navigating the twin pressures of urgent recovery and long-term resilience.

From concept to focus: Black River

It has now been agreed with Jamaican partners that the initial focus of volunteer support will be the preparation of a Build Back Better Masterplan for Black River, in St. Elizabeth, on Jamaica’s south-west coast.

Black River is both historically significant and environmentally sensitive. It sits within a complex ecosystem, is closely connected to the Black River itself, and is increasingly exposed to flooding and coastal change. At the same time, it remains an important service centre for surrounding communities: but it’s in the west – the part of the island that Hurricane Melissa hit hardest.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister has now set out a clear direction: to explore the relocation of key parts of the town’s urban core to safer inland locations, while protecting and enhancing the environmental assets that define the area.

This presents a challenge familiar in principle, but rare in scale and immediacy:

• how to sustain an existing town under growing climate risk;
• how to plan for a new, safer urban centre;
• and how to do so without losing economic function, environmental value, or community identity.

What the work will involve

The masterplan builds on an existing framework. Black River already has an approved development order, which now needs to be reviewed in light of updated risk evidence and national policy direction.

A substantial evidence base is also being compiled and is being mapped using QGIS, including land ownership, land use, ecology, topography, flood records, and coastal change. The task is to translate this information into clear, actionable planning choices.

Volunteer planners will support Jamaican colleagues across five main areas:

• Spatial analysis and mapping – turning complex datasets into clear insights on risk and opportunity;
  
  
• Review of the existing planning framework – identifying what remains valid and what needs to change;
  
  
• Climate-resilient spatial strategy – exploring options for the future of Black River, including inland relocation of key functions;
  
  
• Environmental integration – ensuring alignment with the protected Black River ecosystem;
  
  
• Regulatory and delivery frameworks – supporting the translation of strategy into implementable policies and phasing.

Volunteers will also contribute to visualisation, targeted technical inputs, and the capture of lessons for wider application.

How the support will work

The approach remains grounded in the principles set out previously.

Jamaican planners and institutions - including the Jamaica Institute of Planners, NEPA, the Urban Development Corporation, and local government - will lead the work. Volunteers will act as a technical support pool, providing focused inputs into defined tasks rather than taking on decision-making roles.

This is not about exporting solutions. It is about working alongside colleagues, sharing knowledge and experience, and helping to expand what is possible within real-world constraints.

It is also a two-way process. The issues being addressed in Black River - managed coastal retreat, climate adaptation, environmental integration - are increasingly relevant in many contexts, including parts of the UK.

A live demonstration of Build Back Better

This stage of the initiative is significant because it moves from idea to live demonstration.

Black River is a real place, with real people, real constraints and some challenging decisions to be made. It offers an opportunity to test how international professional support can be mobilised in a way that is practical, proportionate, and grounded in local context.

If successful, it will help shape a more resilient future for one town while providing a model that could be adapted elsewhere.

Continuing the invitation

The invitation to planners remains open.

There is now a defined project and a structured work programme. What is needed is a willingness to contribute expertise, engage thoughtfully, and support colleagues working under pressure in a complex and evolving situation.

Build Back Better is often used as a slogan. In Black River, it is becoming something more tangible - a shared piece of work, carried forward through collaboration, and grounded in the everyday practice of planning.

How to get involved

Planners interested in contributing to the Black River masterplan - or to the wider Build Back Better initiative - are invited to express their interest. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help. We will be getting back to you soon, so you don’t need to ‘put your hands up’ again.

Opportunities are designed to be flexible and manageable alongside existing commitments, and may include:

• short technical inputs or peer review;
• support with spatial analysis and mapping;
• contributions to thematic areas such as climate resilience, land use, or infrastructure planning;
• mentoring and knowledge exchange.

Register your interest

To register your interest please complete the application form. 

The information you provide on the above form will be held securely on the RTPI’s database and will be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. The RTPI will neither disclose, nor permit members of its staff to disclose, any confidential and/or personal information you provide unless required to do so by law or to share data with relevant third parties involved in the administration of the Build Back Better initiative. For more information on how we handle personal data you can view our privacy notice. 

All contributions will be coordinated through the established partnership with UNDP, the Jamaica Institute of Planners, and supporting professional bodies, ensuring that support is aligned with locally identified needs and delivered within a clear ethical and professional framework.