Pepper Barney FRSA FIPM’s Post

🌱📑 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

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

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 

While the conversations are more often about what the city and the council are not achieving- it is only fair to acknowledge what we are. Here are a few more things to add to the list in the article - Whakamaru - the city's new transformational centre was opened - the community have led clean-ups in Newtown and the City - The bus and Bike Improvements for the Southern Route are nearly complete, and they have already had a 62% increase in use - The upgrades for Berhampore and Island Bay Town centres have been completed and look great - The city's transport emissions have reduced slightly, and councils' emissions have reduced by 44% - We corrected the name Hōniana Te Puni Street from Epuni St. -We opened our first Resource Recovery centre in the city centre, Te Aro Zero Waste, in partnership with the Sustainability Trust. -Supported, FillGood l Reusable Serviceware our city's first re-use system for events -Tangle Wood House - Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne’s new home for everyone working and volunteering on this mighty 500-year vision was opened -Our city gained International recognition in the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize for the citizen-led work to bring nature back to our city. -Our city hosted the biggest ever Hīkoi in partnership with our mana whenua - We’ve seen Kiwi return to our hills after 150 years thanks to Capital Kiwi - We’re leaning into boosting the tech and film to help them be the largest employing sectors in the city - We’ve helped Meow Nui open, an excellent new Mid-sized venue to attract more awesome live gigs - The results from the Council's September 2024 Climate Action Monitor survey showed that 87% of respondents felt they understood the impacts of climate change, while 82% expressed a strong desire for increased efforts to prioritise emissions reductions. - We’ve got incredible new artwork across the city, including the beautiful new mural at Ākau Tangi. - We’ve got a new vision statement - Pōneke, the creative capital- where people and nature thrive. So many thanks to amazing Wellingtonians who have gone above and beyond to make these amazing things happen for our city.

Yesterday, I had the privilege of participating in The Bartlett School of Planning UCL Workshop focused on "Identifying a Participatory Assessment Framework for Decision Making on Estate Regeneration Schemes". The two breakout sessions were particularly enlightening, addressing the mitigation of barriers to participation and the implementation of a robust participatory framework. The sessions kicked off with an analysis of surveys taken by 63 residents of the Alton Estate in 2021. The findings highlighted that residents prioritise social value in regeneration—emphasising inclusivity, ethical considerations, cohesion, and stakeholder involvement. Key barriers identified included a lack of transparency regarding stakeholders' understanding of the process and outcomes. The overwhelming response was clear: Regeneration should be driven by co-production. The local community needs to be involved from the initial discussions, contributing to the design and implementation of the regeneration scheme from start to finish. How do we address these challenges? Our discussions underscored the potential of the participatory framework to revolutionise regeneration schemes, contingent on necessary policy changes. The framework would be most impactful if mandated at the Local Authority level or the Greater London Authority and, potentially as a chapter in the Treasury’s Green and Magenta books or as a prerequisite for grants. However, significant challenges persist, including the need to accelerate timeframes, as current schemes can take decades to complete. Additionally, the processes for reviewing evidence and sharing knowledge must become more rigorous, and we must ensure that selected stakeholders are truly representative of the community. A huge thank you to Sahar Nava for an inspiring morning and to my fellow participants for the engaging discussions. I look forward to future collaborations! For more details about the proposed framework, read the paper "Identifying the Criteria for Community-Centred Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Estate Regeneration Schemes" by Sahar Nava, Zaid Chalabi, Pablo Sendra, Esfand Burman, and Sarah Bell on ScienceDirect: https://lnkd.in/e88iMcWb

It's been a real pleasure to collaborate with Living Future's Affordable Housing Pilot Program, and to have our Timber Ridge project featured on their wonderful blog called Trim Tab which does so much to shed light on the path to the regenerative future we must be moving toward. Their lens and supportive resources have been immensely helpful, especially where it comes to finding healthier materials for affordable projects so that everyone can have less toxic exposure in their homes and in the environment. This incredible project is designed for zero-energy certification with no utility bills for residents (equity through sustainability), and we strived to implement as many aspects of the Living Building Challenge as possible through each aspect of design within the project's budget, even as it faced wave after wave of pandemic-driven difficulties. Equity and Sustainability are deeply linked, and we will continue to design projects that move ever farther from consumption, and ever closer toward regeneration; because there's no limit to what we can heal together. We truly hope every developer and architect does the same, and the Living Future community offers an incredible place to start! https://lnkd.in/gttTntQ6 #zeroenergy #zerocarbon #healthymaterials #regenerativedesign #biophilicdesign #affordablehousing

👀 Take a look Inside Living Future’s Affordable Housing Program... 🏠 Living Future is proud to introduce a new 'Red List Free Affordable Housing Guidebook Companion Course'! Developed by our Education and Affordable Housing Teams, this course is invaluable if you want to incorporate healthy building materials into affordable housing projects. In the article linked here, Brittney Boudwin (Senior Director of Education) and Susan Puri (Director of Affordable Housing) explore how Living Future’s Affordable Housing Program is making an impact. Below are some of the key takeaways, follow this link to read the full story: https://bit.ly/400hsK4 - Collaborative Support: The program offers tailored technical assistance to affordable housing pilot projects pursuing Living Future certifications (e.g., Living Building Challenge, Zero Energy, Zero Carbon). - Nationwide Reach: Projects span from Hawaii to Alaska, showcasing diverse sizes, building types, and climates, demonstrating the scalability of sustainable affordable housing. - Peer-to-Peer Learning: Teams share insights on healthy building materials, energy systems, and workflows through platforms that foster collaboration and mentorship. - Resources for Success: The program has developed essential tools like the Affordable Housing Materials List and the Best Practices Guide for Red List Free Affordable Housing to help project teams overcome barriers. #SustainableHousing #AffordableHousing #LivingBuildingChallenge #HealthyBuildings #RedListFree #LivingFuture

🌟 How Devolution Can Transform Towns Like Grimsby. Did you know devolution could hold the key to breathing new life into our town centres? Across the UK, local authorities are being empowered to take charge of regeneration projects, unlocking funding and decision-making that can drive positive change. But what does this mean for towns like Grimsby? Our latest blog delves into how devolution is already making waves, with examples from Grimsby’s own regeneration journey. From ambitious projects like the Freshney Place leisure scheme to the creation of green spaces and community hubs, it’s clear that putting power back into local hands is opening doors to exciting opportunities. In this blog, we explore:  ✅ How devolution supports tailored regeneration projects.  ✅ The importance of community-led decision-making.  ✅ How these changes can improve footfall and transform perceptions of town centres. Grimsby is on the cusp of a transformation, but it takes all of us to be part of this journey. Click below to read the full blog and learn how you can support these efforts and join in creating a brighter future for our high streets and town centres.

🌱🏡 Shaping Future Cities: could this Cooperative Housing model hold the key to tackling the housing crisis in major European cities with a sustainable and community-driven approach? This model in Amsterdam could inspire cities worldwide to rethink housing solutions and urban resilience. Nicolaie Moldovan, EMBA tells you all about it in today's blog for Europe of Cities 👇 #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #HousingCrisis 

The Residential Investment & Development Summit (Reside Summit) introduced the Southern African Home and Residential Alliance (SAHARA) at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Local Government Showcase Conference in Johannesburg. SAHARA, a collaborative not-for-profit umbrella organization, aims to amplify industry impact through government lobbying, policy development, and stakeholder network consolidation across the residential sector. Member organizations span multi-family housing, student accommodation, retirement villages, social housing, and related industries. Debbie Tagg, Chair of Reside and CEO of SAHARA, noted that SAHARA addresses industry demands by uniting stakeholders to enhance collective efforts. At the Reside Summit, Tagg emphasized the pivotal role of the residential sector in society, despite challenges like affordability, urbanization, and sustainability. SAHARA seeks to harness member strengths for shared sectoral goals. Xolani Sotashe, Chairperson of SALGA's Human Settlements & Urban Agenda National Working Group, highlighted South Africa's high urbanization rates and significant housing backlog. He stressed the necessity for public-private partnerships, exemplified by SALGA’s collaboration with SAHARA in residential development, particularly in affordable housing. SAHARA membership benefits include collaborative networking, resource sharing, advocacy, innovation, professional development, and coordinated conference planning. Members also gain access to funding information, market insights, sustainability initiatives, policy development, strategic partnerships, community engagement, technology integration, crisis management strategies, marketing support, regulatory compliance updates, quality standards, health and safety guidelines, and cultural exchange initiatives. Tagg underscored SAHARA’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and mutual support, advocating for collaborative efforts to ensure safe, affordable, and sustainable housing for all Southern Africans. Debbie Tagg, Chair of Reside and CEO of SAHARA