Sustainable Voice Newsletter - June 2009

sustainable voice a newsletter of the Sustainable Communities Excellence Network www.scen.org.uk

Issue 12 June 2009 A bi-monthly newsletter of the Sustainable Communities Excellence Network (SCEN). SCEN is an alliance of publicly funded centres of excellence and skills contact points in the United Kingdom working to equip people, partnerships and leaders with the skills and knowledge to enable the practical delivery of regeneration and sustainable communities. Submissions for the August issue th are due by 15 July. Submissions by email only to: Melissa@regener ationem.co.uk

A large print version of this newsletter is available upon request.

Regeneration Skills Collective Wales to hold September 09 Conference The Regeneration Skills Collective Wales’ “Delivering Regeneration 6” conference, will be held at Cardiff County Hall, Cardiff Bay on Thursday 24th of September 2009. This sixth annual national event will follow a similar format to the previous successful conferences, but will also feature a dedicated session focussing on centres of regeneration excellence and skills contact points in the UK. Both Craig

McLaren (Head of the Scottish Centre for Regeneration) and Adrian Passmore (Chief Executive of RegenWM) are included as speakers within the programme. The Deputy Minister for Regeneration (Welsh Assembly Government) has agreed to give the keynote address at the commencement of the Conference. It is anticipated that there will also be presentations in

respect of designated Strategic Regeneration Areas in Wales; and the emerging key influences on the Welsh regeneration agenda, such as placemaking and Climate Change. Hopefully, there will also be a progress report on the proposal to establish a Centre for Regeneration Excellence in Wales. For more information, contact Richard Essex, on [email protected].

SCEN the UK’s most sectorally diverse place shaping ‘network of networks’ As a collective of over 35 place shaping networks in every single region and country of the United Kingdom, SCEN is the UK’s most sectorally diverse network of place shaping practitioners. Each year, SCEN continues to build a growing community of people directly involved in delivering regeneration and sustainable communities. One of our major activities is to foster cross-sector networks and communities of practice. A look below at our multiple networks reveals a vast web of practitioners, making SCEN truly a ‘network of networks’.

11. Ep2 (Enterprising East of England – People, Enterprising Inspire East Places) 1. Community 12. LSP Network Development Network 13. Urban Partnership 2. Funding East Group (UPG) 3. Design and Historic Environment Champions Urban Design London 14. Design champions 4. LDV Network network 5. Community 15. Planning and design Empowerment network Partnership 16. Street design network Regeneration East 17. Housing design Midlands 6. Association of Regional network (being developed with HCA) Observatories (ARO) 7. Sustainable N. Ireland – Dept. for Communities Excellence Social Development, Network (SCEN) Urban Regeneration 8. Design and Heritage Strategy Directorate Supporting Champions 9. East Midlands Funding Neighbourhood and Town Centre Partnerships Forum (EMFF) 10. East Midlands ‘SCEN…’ Continued on p8 Intelligence Network

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Regeneration East Midlands’ Funding Forum champions Financial Inclusion

Regeneration East Midlands faciliatates the East Midlands Funding Forum (EMFF), a network, information, training and support Charity for funders such as the Lloyds TSB Foundation, BIG Lottery Fund, Grant-Making Trusts, Foundations and Local Authorities from across the East Midlands region.

The East Midlands Funding Forum (EMFF), facilitated by Regeneration East Midlands, is working to raise awareness amongst funders and investors of the role of Financial Inclusion (FI) champions in the region. As part of this, EMFF has helped to develop and promote a survey for funders about their support of FI projects and services to gain a better picture of what has been funded, and whether FI is a priority for them. If you are interested the survey can be found at: www.fichampions.com. With the economy in a downturn and many people finding themselves

with difficulties managing their money, funders thoughts inevitably turn to how to assist organisations that offer financial support to their communities. Fortunately, a new team of Financial Inclusion Champions is now in post for the East and South Midlands to ensure that those wanting to do work on Financial Inclusion are fully supported.

Wales and Scotland. The team for the East and South Midlands covers Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire and parts of Warwickshire and employs three workers that are based with the debt advice charity Leicester Money Advice. The team’s remit is to ensure that everyone has access to five key financial services:  Face to face debt advice  An appropriate bank account  Affordable and responsible credit  Basic Home  Insurance  Savings facilities

The Financial Inclusion Champion initiative is a national Department for Work and Pensions funded scheme that is part of the Government’s Financial Inclusion Action Plan for 2008-2011. 18 regional teams are employed across England, ;

Inspire East raises place shaping aspirations for 1,000 Framework users SCOTTISH CENTRE FOR REGENERATION ‘MIXED COMMUNITIES’ WORKSHOPS: The Mixed and Sustainable Communities Learning Network will offer two popular workshops from the launch event. The first workshop, ‘Masterplanning: Keeping it Real’ will be in Glasgow on June 24. ‘Designing and Delivering Great Places for Mixed and Sustainable Communities’ will be in Edinburgh on June 30. Visit: www.partnersinregeneration.c om .

The Excellence Framework, Inspire East’s on-line toolkit that defines excellence in sustainable communities, has passed the 1,000 registered users mark! To celebrate, they are collecting views on further developing the Excellence Framework. The Excellence Framework has been created by Inspire East with support from the Building Research Establishment and Sallet Consulting Ltd. The toolkit has been adopted by the East of England Development Agency.

The Excellence Framework is made up of comprehensive standards. Each standard is achieved by using a toolkit, set of principles, a checklist, a process or a quality mark. Below are some of the standards used in the Framework:  Action Checklist taking the Local Compact forward  Action Sustainabilitity Flexible Framework  A guide on travel plans for developers  Association of Town Centre Management checklist  A Sustainable Future for Cycling

 BREEAM  Building for Life  Code for Sustainable Homes  Contacts for Local Compacts in the East of England  Crime Reduction teams in the East of England  East of England Cultural Strategy  Local Strategic Partnerships: East of England  East of England Regional Economic Strategy  East of England Regional Spatial Strategy

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New HCA Academy committee formed The HCA Academy, the skills and expertise arm of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has appointed five committee members to assist the organisation to build the skills, knowledge and capacity of HCA and its delivery partners.

Lynne Ceeney With more than 16 years’ experience in the sustainability field, Lynne has worked for the public, private and voluntary sectors. She is currently Technical Director, Sustainable Development at BRE. One of her key interests is engaging different sectors in the The committee will work alongside the Academy’s sustainability agenda. Prior to joining BRE, Chair, Professor Peter Lynne was responsible for Roberts, and Gill Taylor, an Urban Programmethe Academy’s Chief funded regeneration Executive, who were previously Chair and Chief project in Bradford and then took a policy role at Executive respectively of City of York Council. She the Academy for Sustainable Communities. then moved to regional government. Lynne is a member of the UK The new committee Sustainable Development members are: Rebecca Panel. Bennett Casserly; Lynne Ceeney; Peter Hetherington; Mushtaq Peter Hetherington Khan; and Deborah Lamb. Peter, a former regional affairs editor of The Guardian, was an active Rebecca Bennett member of the former Casserly ASC’s steering board for Rebecca’s professional career started in the public three years. His interest in sector in 1993. She joined communities began as a Bromford Housing Group campaigner to save where she commanded a former mining villages in County Durham, where number of challenging any new development was roles in the provision of banned. He joined The development and Guardian in the mid-70s regeneration services. In after working on daily January 2001 Rebecca newspapers on Tyneside moved to the private sector and joined national and in Cumbria. He is a construction and property former northern editor of services provider Mansell The Guardian, and a former deputy editor of the Plc (a Balfour Beatty Manchester Evening company). Rebecca News. He currently writes joined EC Harris LLP; a for Society Guardian on leading built asset consultancy, as a member communities and regeneration. in August 2004. In 2007 she assumed the role of Head of Residential – Affordable.

Mushtaq Khan Mushtaq is a consultant working in housing and regeneration. He has extensive experience at a senior management level and was formerly Head of Service at Trafford Council. During the last three years, he has completed major interim assignments as Director and Head of Service level at Sunderland, Oldham and Lambeth Councils and has helped organisations advance in housing and regeneration strategy. His special areas of expertise centre on housing strategy, regeneration and equality and diversity issues. Deborah Lamb Deborah joined English Heritage in 2002 from Central Government. Through advocacy and a sound evidence base, she aims to get other national organisations to recognise the value of this country’s historic environment. She is responsible for major campaigns such as Streets for All, and Inspired! to secure a future for historic places of worship. She is also responsible for corporate planning, English Heritage’s relationship with Government and coordinating views and action across the historic environment sector. Further information www.hcaacademy.co.uk.

HOMES AND COMMUNITIES ACADEMY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Empowering communities – Pan Neighbourhood Partnership, Newport, Isle of Wight Investing in young people – Just 4 Youth, West Middlesbrough Neighbourhood Trust Leadership of place – Green Horizons Housing, London Low carbon development – Cross Street South, Wolverhampton, Bromford Group New ventures – North Solihull Partnership Places for all – Castle Quay, Bedford, Bedford Borough Council & Complex Development Projects Reducing carbon – Daneville Estate, Liverpool, Liverpool Mutual Homes Skills for better places – Joint winners: Family Mosaic and The Renaissance Consortium Outstanding commitment – Jean Bartlett, Aylesbury New Deal for Communities trustee, London The Co-operative award for excellence – Renaissance Consortium, Miles Platting, Manchester

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Design for London culminates Urban Design Scholarships with exhibition By Adrian Read, in the Architect’s Journal

An Inaugural Urban Design Scholarship exhibition launch at London Metropolitan University in May – the scholarships are a partnership between Design for London, the Architect’s Journal and the RPS Group.

SOUTH EAST EXCELLENCE IDENTIFIES SKILLS NEEDS FOR LOW CARBON ECONOMY:

South East Excellence commissioned research to identify the higher skills implications that arise from the drive for a low carbon and resource efficient economy. The research sought to understand the scale of demand and the extent to which the training and advice available to the region could respond to this. The research will be disseminated to Sector Skills Councils, Professional Institutes and Universities with the objective of informing curriculum development across the region.

London Metropolitan University welcomed more than 100 people on Wednesday, 13 May for the launch of a new exhibition dedicated to urban design. The evening marked the culmination of the inaugural Urban Design Scholarships, set up by the Architect’s Journal in

partnership with Design for London and the RPS Group. Work by Alicia Pivaro, Joe Morris and Fiona Scott, the three architects chosen to take part in the year-long programme, was unveiled at LMU. Their projects aim to provoke debate and demonstrate that architects are ideally placed to participate in urban design. Kieran Long, editor of the AJ,

said: ‘It is still true that urban design is not as good as it should be in this country, but I hope that the Urban Design Scholarships have helped in some way. The AJ has tried to raise the profile of urban design within the profession, and in the course of those efforts, three important voices have been added to the debate about urbanism in London and the UK.’

South East Excellence supports young entrants into built environment careers The South East faces the greatest skills shortages of the English regions, and the development industry, which has suffered substantial losses, is concerned about an aging workforce and the lack of opportunities for graduates in the industry.

environment sector. 1) South East Excellence has produced a targeted guide for employers in the development industry on the business benefits of internships and work placements, together with practical advice on how to get the most from the experience.

In response, South East Excellence has engaged in several initiatives to support early career entrants in the built

2) ‘Places from Spaces’, a demonstration programme to encourage collaboration between local authorities and Universities, gives

practical experience to emerging graduates. A targeted urban design training programme for senior Councillors and officers in Brighton & Hove, Portsmouth and Southampton led to a ‘client brief’ for 3 important public spaces in the cities. This brief set the practical challenge for the students. 135 architecture and urban design students from 3 Universities participated.

Urban Design London fosters four urban design networks Urban Design London currently runs four networks:  Design champions network  Planning and design network  Street design network  Housing design network (with HCA)

Network meetings are open to anyone interested in the subjects. The agendas are open and if anyone wants to suggest an issue to discuss, or tell the meeting about work they are doing that would be wonderful - just email in to say so.

15th June – Planning and design network meeting held 30th June – Streets and design network meeting scheduled For meeting agendas and more information, please visit: http://www.urbandesignlondo n.com

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Integreat Yorkshire Regional Design Review Service Draft Prospectus available Integreat Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward are now proposing to take forward the establishment of a Regional Design Review Service. This is an exciting step forward for the region and Integreat Yorkshire is keen to do all it can to ensure that it is a high quality service and one that plays its part in contributing to a wider range of activities to help

enhance the quality of design. Please see the link to a draft prospectus which sets out a summary of how it might operate. http://www.integreatyorksh ire.com/Publications/Regi onal%20Design%20Revie w%20Service%20Draft%2 0Prospectus.pdf

regional stakeholders and Integreat Yorkshire is are keen to gather your views and thoughts as to how the service might operate best and how the different Design Review services in the region can complement and help each other.

The maximum benefits will only be derived through working together with all

RegenWM showcases good practice through design visits RegenWM run regional and national design visits to bring together individuals interested in design from across the West Midlands to promote design quality and showcase good practice. On 12 May, RegenWM took a group of delegates to look at city centre regeneration in Bristol. Their guides from Bristol City Council provided a background to regeneration in the city and led excellent tours around Harbourside, Temple Quay and the newly completed Cabot

Circus. A future national design visit will take place in September. RegenWM’s next regional design visit will to the Summerfield Eco-Village in Birmingham on Tuesday 23 June 2009. They will be looking at ‘Working with existing housing and communities – increasing sustainability and quality of life.’ The focus for this visit will be on the refurbishment of existing housing, looking at: technological solutions and refurbishment in practice understanding quality standards in design

and sustainability end-use and community solutions. Hosted by the Family Housing Association, the group will explore the Summerfield Eco Village, seeing the benefits of their eco-installations programme to 329 homes, inside and out. Presentations include BRE on the latest thinking and guidance on environmental standards, as well as other regional examples of good practice. With just 30 spaces, e-mail veronica.barbaro@regenw m.org to book.

Places Matter! launches new website Places Matter! are proud to announce the launch of our new website The new Places Matter! website was launched this

month, showcasing and providing access to a number of our core business strands. Developed by Manchester-based

Reading Room, the site will streamline access to the services Places Matter! provides. Visit www.placesmatter.co.uk and have a look.

YORKSHIRE & HUMBER DESIGN REVIEW HUB: Integreat Yorkshire intends to create a new Regional Design Review Service as part of its Designs on the Region programme for Yorkshire and the Humber. It will be managed by Integreat Yorkshire and feature a new Regional Design Review Hub. It is anticipated to be operational by October 2009 panel meeting.

REGENWM SUMMER SEMINARS: ‘Making it work: the challenge of tackling worklessness’ on 17 June; ‘Introduction to community cohesion’ on 25 June; ‘Introduction to regeneration’ on 2 July; ‘Introduction to sustainable transport’ on 8 July; ‘Introduction to project management on 15 July – to book, visit: www.regenwm.org/activity /activity.asp?pid=15

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Creating Excellence encourages Design Review during recession

Design South West is an alliance of organisations, active in the region, who together promote design quality in the built environment. Following the publication of ‘Designing our Environment - towards a better built environment for the South West’ a commission was set up to establish an implementation plan which includes the South West Design Review Panel.

IGNITE NORTH EAST LAUNCHES BECONNECTED BRAND TO DELIVER CROSSOCCUPATIONAL TRAINING: At the recently launched North East Design Review Service in May, IGNITE revealed the new brand for the Professional Member Organisation MoU under which they will deliver a series of cross occupational seminars – BeConnected. Watch this space.

Good design is critical to surviving the recession according to the South West Design Review Panel, which is encouraging the property industry to take advantage of its free advice service. The design review process can help to add value, reduce cost, save time and seeks to ensure that projects are robust and sustainable propositions, thereby creating buildings and spaces that will increase

in value rather than become ‘toxic' assets in the future.

super-Mare following the devastating fire last summer  Mixed-use scheme in Bridgwater including 2000 dwellings and a regional distribution centre for Morrisons  Redevelopment of a former industrial site close to Frome town centre for residential, commercial and employment use

The 30-strong Panel brings together a wealth of expertise in architecture, planning and urban design and is chaired by Peter Clegg, co-founder of Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios of Bath and London - 2008 winners of the Stirling Prize. Examples of recent projects reviewed include: For more information visit: www.creatingexcellence.o  The rebuilding of the Grand Pier at Weston- rg.uk

Major regeneration for Northside of Belfast Following public consultation, a major regeneration implementation plan will breathe new life into the Northside of Belfast City Centre, says Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA. The ambitious plan will mean new housing, and new businesses with the vision to create an urban

village comparable to the best of European regional cities. The Northside Urban Village will also include:

 a new public space/square at the junction of Library Street/Little Donegall Street.

 proposals for the junction of Carrick Hill/ Millfield, Peter’sHill/North Street in order to create a ‘gateway’ to the city centre and associated development opportunities;

This is an investment of £5.5million committed this year alongside an implementation plan for kickstarting regeneration in this area over the next 10 years.

IGNITE hosts NYC design commissioner to launch North East Design Review service The North East Design Review Service was formally launched on the 12th May. To mark the occasion, David Burney, Commissioner of Design and Construction for New York City, gave a Master Class to an invited audience of regional regeneration specialists, members of the

Professional Member Organisations in the built environment and private sector developers and house builders.

shared goal of quality, sustainable place making. The service aims to raise regional quality standards and enhance investment.

The purpose of the Master Class was to provide an understanding of how participating in Design Review can help people and organisations reach a

One North East is adopting the Design Review as a mark of quality to be achieved as part of the criteria for awarding funding.

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Scottish Centre for Regeneration showcases best practice in town centres The Association of Town Centre Management Scotland, in partnership with the Scottish Centre for Regeneration, held an informal networking event in Edinburgh on June 10. With no structured programme, delegates were free to explore the exhibitions and speak to representatives from

award-winning and inspirational projects that have transformed town centres. This was a great opportunity to network with people facing similar issues! There was also be an opportunity to attend an evening reception of the Scottish Parliament's

Cross Party Group on Town Centres, in the Scottish Parliament from 5.30pm onwards. To learn more about the centre’s learning networks and events on offer, visit their website at: www.partnersinregenerati on.com.

Places Matter! furthers study of economic value of good design Places Matter! has commissioned new research into the economic value of good design during the recession. Findings reveal that good design can still add value and help schemes to ‘weather’ the effects of recession. Research published by Places Matter! in 2007 argued that design could add up to 20% in rental and capital value and speed up the lettings and sales rate of a scheme.

Taylor Young revisited these case studies to establish how they are faring in the current economic downturn and has undertaken a survey of agents in commercial and residential property sectors across the The original report concluded that there was Northwest. Full and summary versions are strong evidence that available to download economic, social and below. Full report environmental returns www.placesmatter.co.uk/ increase with better design. Equally, the costs webfm_send/23; of bad design can be very Executive summary substantial in these terms. http://www.placesmatter.c For the 2009 report, o.uk/webfm_send/24 For 2009, Places Matter! is publishing a follow-up report revisiting these findings to explore how they have been affected by the current economic climate.

Regeneration East Midlands’ urban conference joins up response to recession Last week, people from across the UK came together at ‘Addressing City Flight,’ a day-long event hosted by the Urban Partnership Group (UPG), which is facilitated by Regeneration East Midlands. Over 60 public and private sector representatives attended

and heard from a range of high-profile speakers about how to achieve sustainable urban centres in the challenging economic climate. Workshops were held to capture stakeholder views about regional policy and previous Urban Action Plans. These will inform a

new Urban East Midlands framework document, to be published in July, which aims to provide a ‘snapshot’ of the region’s urban areas, their strengths, specialisms and challenges.

The All Party Parliamentary Regeneration Group (APPRG) was formed in 2001 with the aim of helping parliamentarians to better contribute to debates in Westminster and beyond, about improving the prospects of our poorest communities. The Group promotes community-led regeneration, encouraging ‘joined up’ thinking between Government, business and the voluntary sector.

The Urban Partnership Group (UPG) facilitated by Regeneration East Midlands, recently held an event on ‘Addressing City Flight’. UPG will soon publish an Urban East Midlands framework on five themes: Place Shaping; Positive Growth; Delivering Sustainable Urban Infrastructure; Positive Profile; and Healthy Economy.

Integreat Yorkshire to upgrade skills of council workers in Bradford sustainable voice

Bradford’s groundbreaking Regeneration Academy will offer tailor-made training and development to 500 council officers. Nicola Carroll was at the launch.

Issue 12 June 2009

As the first programme of its kind in England, the first 50 participants of the programme will find all eyes are on them to see what this ambitious approach to skills development can deliver. Judging by the mood

A bi-monthly newsletter of the Sustainable Communities Excellence Network. www.scen.org.uk Submissions for August issue to Melissa Riches by the 15th of July: Melissa@regenerati onem.co.uk

when they got together for the official launch of the academy at the city’s Midland Hotel, the ‘academicians’ – as they have been dubbed – are ready to rise to the challenge. The academy will provide bespoke training and development programmes to staff in the city council’s directorate of regeneration. It will focus on three key areas of learning: project management, place shaping and leadership. The emphasis will be on

professionals at all grades and disciplines learning from each other. Participants will be encouraged to be creative, think differently and take risks. The academy is a threeyear partnership between City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Integreat Yorkshire and Yorkshire Forward. It is seen as integral to the city’s regeneration.

Inspire East runs built environment Joint CPD with Construction Industry Council Inspire East and Construction Industry Council Members have developed a programme for all the built environment professionals in the region. Programme events are as follows: 6th October Coasts – Planning for Change: After years of policy neglect, coastal areas are increasingly subject to major inevitable

natural change and economic pressures. 16th July - Combating Climate Change: This event will provide guidance to building professionals on designing and delivering low carbon buildings. Speakers are Sunand Prasad, President of RIBA and founding commissioner of CABE and Julian Marsh, Marsh,

‘SCEN…’ continued from page 1 Regeneration Skills North West – Places Collective Wales Matter! 25. A network of 6 18. Supporting Design professional institutes and Heritage Champions Scottish Centre for North East – IGNITE 19. BeConnected Pan Regeneration 26. Community Professional Network Regeneration and Website micro-networks: 20. North East Design and Tackling Poverty 27. Town Centres and Historic Environment Local High Streets Champions 28. Mixed and Sustainable 21. North East Social Communities Capital Forum 22. Northumberland Rural South East Excellence 29. CPD network for built Network environment professionals 23. One NorthEast Physical Regeneration South West – Creating Investment Framework Excellence 30. Regeneration South 24. UK Evaluation West Society, North East 31. Design Champions

Grochowski Architects and Regeneration East Midlands Board member. 29th October 2009 Construction Waste – the road to zero waste?: The event will focus on achieving best resource efficiency through compliance, technology and innovation in waste management. For more information visit: www.inspire-east.org.uk.

32. Empowering Communities (Regional Empowerment Partnership) 33. Funding South West West Midlands – RegenWM 34. Taking the Lead (Rural Action Groups) 35. Brownfield Land Working Group 36. Designed Environment West Midlands Yorkshire and Humber – Integreat Yorkshire 37. City region practice forums 38. Local authority design awareness training programmes 39. Pan Professional Network