Laurie Foon’s Post

New Paper! Promoting neighbourhood sharing: infrastructures of convenience and community Against the background of high levels of energy and resource demand in the residential sector, this paper investigates one potential way of making housing more sufficient: #sharing at the neighbourhood level. Evidence from French and German case studies of ‘collaborative housing’ and ‘developer-driven neighbourhood sharing’ is used to identify two types of popular sharing practices: #community-oriented and #convenience-oriented. The first group of sharing practices is underpinned by creating, maintaining and experiencing social ties with neighbours. The second group of practices is guided by getting day-to-day tasks done smoothly and efficiently. To support the establishment of such sharing practices, some social and organisational measures are suggested. Thus, convenience-oriented sharing practices may be promoted by infrastructures and associated services that optimise the availability of sharing facilities and minimise temporal stretches and consumption work involved in practice performances. Community-oriented sharing practices may benefit from infrastructural arrangements that enable chance encounters, privilege community spaces over private areas and create welcoming spatial atmospheres. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gEeTiPwf Authors: Andreas Huber, Harald Heinrichs, Melanie Jaeger-Erben

Here’s what’s critical: effective green building standards that help cities and states reach their sustainability goals. Our own Ray D. spoke with Shelterforce about Enterprise Green Communities, the only green building standard created with and for the affordable housing sector: https://bit.ly/3WGRpF0 With a 20-year track record, Green Communities continues to evolve and make healthy, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient homes accessible to all communities. Yet much work – and many opportunities – lie ahead as our sector strives to meet the urgent need for homes that are both affordable and sustainable.

We're set to take forward in partnership local community-led projects aimed at revitalising homes and improving rural transport links in Perth and Kinross, following a recent successful bid for Innovate UK Pathfinder Places funding.    The £150,000 funding comes after the positive outcomes of the Phase 1 Pathfinder Places project in mid-2023 which we delivered together with Nicki Souter Associates, The University of Edinburgh and The HEAT Project (part of Blairgowrie & Rattray Development Trust). The proposed projects that will be supported by the £150K were voted on by local residents and businesses: Revitalising Homes will look at creating a sustainable, one-stop-shop retrofit project for housing throughout the Council area, with the majority of work centred on developing schemes that will be available for use by homeowners and private and social housing landlords alike.    Connecting Regional Travel will explore the viability of two new services focusing on the rural town of Aberfeldy: one looking at an express bus route to Perth, and the other concentrating on a minibus service connecting surrounding villages with Aberfeldy. Recent community engagement carried out by Rural Transport Futures will be taken into consideration, and the project will be carried out in consultation with the Upper Tay Transport Group.     In addition, the project will also investigate the capacity to synchronise bus timetables with key destinations such as healthcare services and train stations, provision of express bus services and other transport options including reduced-cost fare options to promote demand and encourage people to choose other options for their daily commute, in an effort to reduce the number of vehicles on local roads.     Project updates as Phase 2 progresses will be available from the PK Climate Action website at https://lnkd.in/e65yBd6Q 

#communityliving #sustainability #affordability The study demonstrates how co-living buildings may serve various communities by including guest rooms, gathering places, and co-working spaces to improve the neighborhood as a whole. https://lnkd.in/d-XKypZK

"Mobile home parks embrace sustainable living practices, incorporating eco-friendly initiatives such as energy-efficient appliances, solar power options, and water conservation measures. This commitment to environmental responsibility not only benefits the planet but also allows residents to enjoy reduced utility costs, making sustainable living both environmentally conscious and economically savvy." 🏡 https://lnkd.in/eSSyUmjU (Stay up to date with the latest news and trends by subscribing to my daily newsletter. You’ll receive fresh and insightful content delivered straight to your inbox every day. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in the know. Read and Subscribe!) 👇 #mobilehomepark #manufacturedhousing #technlogy #news #manufacturedhousingcommunities #realestate #investment #homebuyer #mobilehomeinvesting #buildcommunity #helpcommunity #investor #realestateinvestors #sustainability #affordability #housingmarketupdates #communityliving #housing #TheRealEstateSolutionist

🏘️ Eastlight Community Homes has become the latest housing provider to adopt the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS). Eastlight is a resident-led housing association for the East of England that owns and looks after 14,500 homes consisting of social rent, affordable rent and shared ownership. Jo Barrett, Executive Director of Strategy, Governance & Assurance at Eastlight, said: “We are thrilled to have joined over 100 UK housing associations in adopting the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing (SRS). “Sustainability is a core part of Eastlight. A key principle within our Corporate Strategy 2024-27, we always consider our environmental and social impact when delivering homes and services within our communities, and we rely on diverse, robust and authentic leadership that enables us to remain future fit for our customers now and in the years ahead. “By adopting the SRS, we are now able measure and compare our impact and ensure data-led decision-making, with residents right at the centre.” It is great to see Eastlight recognise the importance of underpinning its sustainability strategy by reporting through the SRS. We look forward to working alongside them in evaluating and delivering their sustainability objectives. If you would like to discuss the benefits of Adopting the SRS please get in touch. 📧 srs.contact@thegoodeconomy.co.uk #ESG #ESGReporting #Sustainability #SocialHousing #UKHousing

Is de-carbonising our cities just about the best technology and funding. Absolutely not. People matter. If we don't get local communities on board, then at best our projects get delayed and at worst abandoned. Much of what I read on making our sustainable cities is about either the right technology (insulation, heat pumps, building materials, demolition vs refurbishment etc) or the financial implications. But much less is written on the social factors that help get these projects off the ground faster (or even at all). As a finance person I have seen numerous 'good' projects that have either taken way too long to get built, or that never happened at all. And this was not because they were bad projects. It was about social licence. We have talked a fair bit about social licence before in the context of mining and heavy industry. But the same issues also apply in different ways to cities and buildings. And this is why a recent report entitled Advancing Just Transitions in the Built Environment from the Institute of Human Rights and Business caught our eye. They make the point that "while some decarbonisation initiatives are reducing inequalities, others are leaving communities behind, generating greenlash - pushback to green initiatives - which costs valuable time, and money, and hinders the transition." And rather than talking about this in the abstract, they used a lot of city case studies. I picked Melbourne from the examples in the report, as it's a city I know well. While Australia is an affluent country, its cities share some common ground with other middle income cities. Housing is in short supply, it's often unaffordable, and it's generally not very energy or resource efficient. The residential sector is responsible for 30% of CO2 emissions in the State of Victoria (Melbourne is the state capital). Outside the city centre, 46.5% of residents have to drive to work. What were some of their practical recommendations (there is a longer list in the report). The first will be familiar - refurbishing for energy efficiency. Why is this a challenge? It's simple - cost and disruption. One solution that the report highlights is the Retain, Repair, Reinvest (RRR) Framework. Put simply it's about keeping communities in their neighbourhoods (Retain), refurbish existing buildings rather than demolish and rebuild (Repair), and then put the savings made back into improving comfort and upgrading public housing (Reinvest). And then there is re-skilling and re-training. Good well paid jobs for the local community. These projects are going to need a lot more construction workers, so lets tap into new groups for this. Lets start with the easy one, getting women into the industry. And they propose lots of practical actions. You can read the full blog for free at The Sustainable Investor (just follow the links in my profile). #sustainablefinance #strategy #cities

🌱📑 Demystifying Mindful Regeneration: S106 Agreements and Social Value 🌳When new developments are planned, councils often require developers to sign Section 106 agreements (S106). These legally binding agreements ensure that developers contribute to local communities impacted by their projects. But how do S106 agreements work? And how are the funds used? Let's break it down: ➕ Calculating Contributions: Contributions are based on factors like development size, type, and council guidelines. Often calculated per unit or square footage, they're negotiated individually, ensuring positive community contributions without overburdening services. 💷 Utilisation of Contributions: S106 funds are used in various ways: 🏠 Affordable Housing: Developers either build affordable housing or contribute to funds for future builds. 🚌 Local Infrastructure: Improvements can include roads, transport, parks, or community facilities. ✏️ Education: S106 funds can support schools, classrooms, and resources. 🏥 Healthcare: Contributions may fund new clinics or support existing facilities. 🌿 Environmental Improvements: Funds can improve local environments, creating green spaces or supporting wildlife habitats. 💸 Transparency and Spending: While S106 funds must be spent according to agreements, there's no geographic requirement. This allows councils to pool contributions for larger projects benefiting wider areas. Many councils now publish S106 information, demonstrating funds are spent transparently and effectively. 💡Innovative Usage: Some councils use S106 funds in innovative ways: ❇️ Co-working Spaces: Creating affordable workspaces for entrepreneurs and freelancers. ✳️ Community Gardens: Providing green spaces for residents to grow food and learn about sustainability. 🟢 Green Energy Projects: Supporting renewable energy projects, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting sustainability. 🟩 Digital Skills Programs: Funding programs teaching residents to use technology, preparing them for digital economy jobs. ✅ Cultural and Artistic Projects: Supporting local arts initiatives like public art installations, theaters, or music festivals. 🌇 Examples: 🦖Cambridge City Council: Created Cambridge Science Park, a tech hub promoting local economic growth and job creation. 🦎 Southwark Council: Funded Bankside Open Spaces Trust, creating numerous public gardens, parks, and green spaces. 🐢 Bristol City Council: Supported Bristol Energy Cooperative, generating renewable energy and reinvesting profits into local sustainability projects. I would love to hear your experience and what you wish would have happened… Next up: Green New Deal, proposed legislation in the US aimed to address climate change and economic inequality. #mindfulregeneration #S106 #Section106 #innovation #DoingThingsDifferently #publicfunding #socialvalue Pepper Barney FRSA FIPM The Mindful Regenerist

S106/CIL seems to hold about as much meaning and value to the typical psyche as "public art". I'd like to see more on/off site contributions invested in value-adding initiatives - it's easy to find ways of spending money on stuff you *need*, but I believe if you're clever about it, you can also afford to use the exact same money on things you need, AND really *want* (ie. more social justice, less "hideous" sculptures) #socialinfrastructure #smartmoney #investment #impact #legacy #communitywealthbuilding

The government’s upcoming long-term housing strategy is a chance to think big. Could we rethink New Towns as regenerative communities? In a blog for the #NHF, I explore lessons from further afield and what they could mean for the UK’s future. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ebuQfaQx