Place-shaping

'Place-shaping' is now widely understood to describe the ways in which local players collectively use their influence, powers, creativity and abilities to create attractive, prosperous and safe communities, places where people want to live, work and do business.

Local authorities are strategic leaders in place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens, responding to residents' ambitions and aspirations and working with partners to deliver relevant services.

Place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens is a highly important concept for those involved in building new communities to understand - whether or not there are existing residents in the area. The volume of new housing compared to the number of existing homes, where they exist, will be large. Their development will affect the character of a place and therefore this is a process that needs to be managed.

Place shaping is not just a nice idea, and it is not optional. It is being backed up with:

  • a new focus on economic development and economic purpose for communities
  • new statutory arrangements
  • a new local performance framework
  • new architecture for managing place -haping through local strategic partnerships
  • new institutional arrangements with new ways of working (the Homes and Communities Agency)
  • new requirements for gathering evidence
  • new measures of success of place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens.

New focus on economic development

A fundamental principle underpinning place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens is the idea that every place should have an identity and a function - and in particular an economic purpose. In support of this, the Sub-national Review of Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) will require local authorities to undertake an economic assessment of their area. It also provides new arrangements for sub-regional and regional working to integrate economic development with a range of other functions.

New statutory arrangements

New statutory arrangements have made local authorities in partnership with local strategic partnerships (LSPsGlossary: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are non-statutory bodies that bring together the different parts of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors working at a local level ) the key local agencies responsible for 'place shaping'. Where substantial new developments take place key players who are involved in building new communities and ongoing stewardshipGlossary: refers, in this context, to the ongoing process of managing, maintaining and tending a community - from public and private sectors and residents - should be represented on the LSPGlossary: A local strategic partnership (LSP) is a non-statutory body that brings together the different parts of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors working at a local level.

The New Local Performance Framework

The New Local Performance Framework has reduced the regulatory burden on local authorities and the Central-Local Protocol is an indication of a shift that has taken place to devolve more powers from central to local government - on condition that councils delegate power to their residents.

New architecture for place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens

The Sustainable Community StrategyGlossary: local authorities in England and Wales are required to produce a community strategy to promote the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their areas, achieving sustainable communities. (SCS) provides the overarching strategic vision for LSPsGlossary: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are non-statutory bodies that bring together the different parts of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors working at a local level and local authorities.

The Local Area AgreementGlossary: (LAA) are three-year agreements, developed by local authorities with their partners in a LSP. Each LAA highlights what the priorities for each locality are (LAAGlossary: Local Area Agreement) is the means through which local authorities agree priorities and negotiate targets with central government that will support a local vision and will be used to focus action and measure performance locally. In some areas, MAAs (Multi-Area Agreements) are being used to agree priorities for action across a number of authorities where they are demonstrating that they are working together effectively.

The Local Development Framework (LDF) is the vehicle through which spatial plans are developed and delivered. As far as possible they need to be aligned to the Sustainable Community StrategyGlossary: local authorities in England and Wales are required to produce a community strategy to promote the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of their areas, achieving sustainable communities. so that they support its delivery.

New institutional arrangements

The objectives and functions of the Homes and Communities Agency embrace a broad approach to developing sustainable communitiesGlossary: Sustainable communities meet the social, economic and environmental needs of existing residents without reducing the same opportunities for future generations and are geared to making place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens a reality. Its relationship with local authorities and other local players will be through a 'single conversation' which will focus on the ambitions of localities and of functional sub regions. The Homes and Communities Agency will offer funding and skills in line with these ambitions.

New requirements for gathering evidence

Local authorities are now being expected to undertake an annual Place Survey to gather evidence of residents' requirements and aspirations. They are also now required to undertake a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment which will provide evidence of local needs across a range of functions. This will support local authorities and LSPsGlossary: Local strategic partnerships (LSPs) are non-statutory bodies that bring together the different parts of the public, private, voluntary and community sectors working at a local level to deliver their place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens role effectively.

Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAAGlossary: Comprehensive Area Assessment)

The new CAA that is currently being developed supports a shift in approach to 'place-shapingGlossary: a wider, strategic role for local government, using powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens'. From April 2009, areas will be subject to new measures of success and the assessment will be delivered by a partnership of inspectorates (including the Audit Commission). It will embrace all the statutory partners working locally as well as residents.