Community engagement in housing schemes had been an important but often ignored topic. Not to mention it’s vast scope and the impact it has on our planning and development. I liked the way how you put it into short yet precise words, as such concepts often are hard to explain. The simplicity and structure of your article helped in a clear understanding of the method. Hope to see more such methods being implemented in the design practice of the future. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Community Engaging Housing Schemes
Housing standards are rising thanks to collaborative housing concepts. Also, these strategies prioritize inhabitants’ needs over private profit. But what does it mean by collaborative housing?
Firstly, several words are used to denote different characteristics or types of community-led housing. These terms include concepts like ‘cohousing, social production of housing, and self-construction,’. As well as terms like ‘collective, collaborative, resident-led, participative, and self-organized housing’ also justify the same.
Fig.01 Design objectives after community engagement (Arundhati Chitnis)
Why should urban designers involve the community in planning housing schemes?
Community engagement can help urban designers in listening to community viewpoints, concerns, and ideas. Furthermore, it can uncover challenges and disclose strategies that better satisfy a city’s housing needs, which city employees may not be aware of. Moreover, it can strengthen partnerships between the city administration and community groups for future planning procedures. Additionally, it can feel inclusive to communities that have been intentionally or accidentally excluded from decision-making processes.
How can we develop community engagement in planning?
Fig.02 Community Engagement in Planning process (Arundhati Chitnis)
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Defining Scope:
Making the scope of the design clear in front of the community will result in transparency and accountability. Also, it will help in making people aware of the timeline and the decision-making structure.
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Understanding the community landscape:
Hearing the voices of the community most affected by the housing, land use and other relevant issues.
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Asking the right questions:
Forming core questions and putting them in front of the community is very important. Furthermore, It would help in understanding the answers from the user-level perspective.
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Addressing government capacity:
Keeping a note if the staff have the correct training and skill set in handling a diverse community.
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Addressing community capacity:
The community needs to be made aware of the process and components of the housing scheme. Moreover, they might need to know about the materials etc. to ensure the appropriate design decision.
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Deciding how feedback will be used:
In addition to the voice of the people, it is important that the community knows how the feedback from taskforce, surveys, and meetings would affect the design.
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Transparency in the next steps through Implementation:
Finally the community may assist in the plan’s successful execution by providing support for the strategy and increased capacity to engage even during the implementation stage.
References:
- Cooperative councils’ innovation network, Community-Led Housing: A Key Role for Local Authorities
- HACT, July 2015, A Guide note for Community Groups on Community-Led Housing and the Role of Housing Associations.
- Jo Lavis MRTPI, June 2019, A Planner’s Guide to Community-Led Housing.
- The Housing Design Handbook: A guide to good practice (second edition)
- https://www.commonplace.is/blog/the-importance-of-community-engagement-for-estate-regeneration-and-development
- https://library.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/2861/1/Getting_the_housing_we_want.pdf
- https://localhousingsolutions.org/plan/engaging-the-community-in-the-development-of-a-local-housing-strategy/
- https://www.chtrust.co.uk/clh.html
Community engagement in housing schemes had been an important but often ignored topic. Not to mention it’s vast scope and the impact it has on our planning and development. I liked the way how you put it into short yet precise words, as such concepts often are hard to explain. The simplicity and structure of your article helped in a clear understanding of the method. Hope to see more such methods being implemented in the design practice of the future. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Thank you
Aru, that is a very descriptive blog about community engagement in housing. I agree with renuka’s comment that it is indeed essential to have tenant engagement while designing. Firstly, I would start by defining tenant engagement/ community engagement. It is empowering tenants, residents and communities to work with designers to achieve shared aims. It is about working with communities to address the issues they feel are a priority; for example empowering and supporting communities to develop their capacity to tackle issues they face; addressing issues that are wider than just ‘housing’.
The 3 c’s of community engagement are: Collaboration- collaborate/involve local researchers; Communication- communicate to participating research communities and research participants ; and Consultation- consult local governing bodies/local leaders/village or district health officers. Community engagement takes a variety of forms. They are: Community engagement with a focus on community development or community building; Community participation in consultation and decision-making; Community engagement that helps organisations, businesses etc. to improve their service delivery or to achieve their goals; Community engagement as part of social change movements or as part of the work of voluntary community organisations.
References:
https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/5.48%20Engaging%20and%20empowering%20tenants%20in%20council-owned%20housing_05.pdf
https://www.housingnet.co.uk/pdf/Tpas%20national%20survey%20summary%2031.03
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-3-Cs-model-of-participatory-community-engagement_fig1_327731298
https://sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/types-of-community-engagement/