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-shaping
, responding to residents' ambitions and aspirations and working with partners to deliver relevant services.
Place-shaping
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-shaping
.
New focus on economic development
A fundamental principle underpinning place-shaping
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 (LSPs
) 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 stewardship
- from public and private sectors and residents - should be represented on the LSP
.
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-shaping
The Sustainable Community Strategy
(SCS) provides the overarching strategic vision for LSPs
and local authorities.
The Local Area Agreement
(LAA
) 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 Strategy
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 communities
and are geared to making place-shaping
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 LSPs
to deliver their place-shaping
role effectively.
Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA
)
The new CAA that is currently being developed supports a shift in approach to 'place-shaping
'. 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.