Bi-monthly newsletter which keeps Regional Centre of Excellence (RCE) staff and stakeholders informed about recent programmes and events, staff updates and other timely news.
Bi-monthly newsletter which keeps Regional Centre of Excellence (RCE) staff and stakeholders informed about recent programmes and events, staff updates and other timely news.
Bi-monthly newsletter which keeps Regional Centre of Excellence (RCE) staff and stakeholders informed about recent programmes and events, staff updates and other timely news.
a newsletter of the Sustainable Communities Excellence Network
Issue 11 IGNITE appoints key leads for new
April 2009 Regional Design Review service This bi-monthly newsletter is North East England is ARUPs will provide the Agency will be required to designed to adding to its strong service secretariat and have passed through the regularly update the Sustainable portfolio of activities to John Devlin, formerly design review process. Communities strengthen place making director of development Excellence standards with the and environment at For further information on Network and creation of a Regional Gateshead Council, will the Regional Design stakeholders with Design Review and chair the new service. Review and Enabling current events and Enabling Service. John will head a design Service, please contact news of note review panel of 28 Kirsteen Thomson, lead The new service – which experts. on IGNITE and Submissions of will be managed by Sustainable Development articles and/or photos or images IGNITE, the Regional One North East – which Manager at One North with captions and Centre of Excellence for funds IGNITE – will be East, on Tel: 0191 229 photo credit are Sustainable Communities making it a condition that 6424 or email: due to the Network – has just made key all appropriate kirsteen.thomson@onenor Development appointments to lead the development schemes theast.co.uk th Officer by 15 new service which will go seeking funding from the April for the May live in May. 2009 issue.
Submissions by e- Integreat Yorkshire latest RCE to
mail only to: info@scen.org.uk support National Empowerment A large print Integreat Yorkshire is the communities. Participants are expected version of this latest RCE to support The Commissioned by the to carry out a short piece National Empowerment Homes and Communities of research to analyse newsletter is Partnership in its region. Academy, the programme development in their own available Two RCEs – Creating aims to raise awareness or another community in upon request. Excellence in the South and share practice in between these blocks. West and Inspire East in relation to sustainable Further information can be the East of England – are communities and will found by visiting already the regional leads focus on the role of http://www.cogs.uk.net. for empowerment community development partnerships in the region. workers and their Funded by Communities relationship to others and Local Government Now Integreat Yorkshire is working at community (CLG), The National assisting the Communities level. Partnership & Organisations Growth Empowerment (NEP) is a and Support (COGS) The programme in the national partnership set up organisation, the regional Yorkshire and Humber to improve the quality, co- lead in Yorkshire and Region took place in ordination and evidence of Humber, to deliver a Wakefield on 30 and 31 empowerment across learning programme about March, 27 and will England. building sustainable continue on 28 April 2009. sustainable voice Page 2 of 8 RegenWM succeeds with West Midlands’ first Design Fair RegenWM facilitated the included Transforming stopped calls for design first West Midlands Design Telford, Play England, quality to remain on the Fair in Birmingham on Sustrans, HCA, RIBA and regional agenda and 25th February, an event various architects product quality and market which showcased the best practices, Sanctuary differentiation have the in design and built Group, West Midlands potential to mark out environment services and Architecture Centres – activity in an otherwise partnerships. MADE and UVNS, difficult market. The Birmingham City Council, Design Fair enabled RegenWM facilitated the The Fair promoted design Trigram Properties and organisations and first West Midlands Design quality in the region. Birmingham City individuals to make Fair, which took place in RegenWM, part of DEWM University School of connections with others in (Designed Environment Architecture. the field, to benchmark Birmingham on West Midlands – a against others, to stay 25thFebruary. The event partnership of design The space was animated informed and to do brought together 33 organisations in the West with a montage of regional business. organisations to make Midlands) hosted a wide images, supplied by connections with others in mix of organisations from exhibitors, a film of the There has been a steady across the sector and Birmingham cityscape - stream of positive the field, to benchmark created an upbeat and routes and landscapes, feedback following the against others, to stay vibrant space for informal static displays from event. DEWM partners are informed and to do networking. Matthew Boulton College now considering staging business. and Birmingham City another Design Fair in The event was a great University, jugglers and Spring 2010. For more success – 33 entertainers and a information and to view organisations exhibited networking café. our online gallery from the and over 200 people Fair, visit the RegenWM attended. Exhibitors The current operating website at: environment has not http://www.regenwm.org.
Creating Excellence offers Building for Life
Creating Excellence was Accredited Assessor Training launched in 2004. It is an Creating Excellence is growth plans. Full arrange further courses in independent company limited now acting as partner to information regarding the May 2009. For further by guarantee and governed CABE (the Commission Building for Life standard information on these for Architecture and the can be found at workshops please contact by its own Board. Its mission it Built Environment) in the http://www.buildingforlife.o Amanda.hamley@creating to build the skills and South West to promote rg. excellence.org.uk. knowledge of people working and deliver specific for sustainable communities training on the adoption Creating Excellence is Please note that due to and use of the Building for making provision to train the degree of professional by providing improved Life standard. officers who might act as expertise required in learning opportunities for accredited assessors on undertaking a Building for everyone through networking, From 2009 local behalf of local authorities. Life assessment events, website and authorities must include Working closely with candidate assessors publications. Building for Life CABE, they have already should have a previous assessments as part of held two successful qualification in their Annual Monitoring training workshops for Architecture, Urban Report. Growth Points prospective Building for Design, Landscape should identify how Life assessors in February Design, Planning or Building for Life will be in Bristol and Plymouth. similar. incorporated into their They are now looking to Page 3 of 8 sustainable voice Homes and Communities Academy update Debate Place 2. Subsidies should be Coming Soon HCA Academy’s online increased and made For 3 weeks in April, the Debate Place has been available to enable HCA Academy will host set up to enable cross- home-owners to the second in the series of sector practitioners to make their existing on line debates with the From the HCA website, a share their views on key homes more energy title ‘In the midst of a proposed street scene at areas impacting their efficient, and for recession how can we work. The first debate ran home-owners and develop cohesive the second Carbon in February and generated developers to install communities?’. View a Challenge site in over 3000 hits and a the most cost series of films of Peterborough. Copyright healthy debate on effective and practitioners in the field, Browne Smith Baker, Morris delivering low carbon appropriate micro- down load reports and Homes Ltd and Gentoo communities. Strong renewables. view case studies on themes emerged ranging 3. More focus and show case here: Homes, 2008 from policy implications, resource needs to be http://showcase.hcaacade the importance of put into community my.co.uk changing behaviour, to engagement and questioning costs and effective long-term Future Communities calling for community management of new The Young Foundation, based solutions. Click on places to enable sponsored by HCA, IDeA the link for the full debate: thriving communities. and CIH, has developed a http://tiny.cc/yIlkI 4. European models for new website aimed at housing, such as co- everyone involved in Key messages from the housing, should be developing the successful debate included: considered as a part sustainable communities 1. We need to think of UK delivery of the future. carefully about the models. futurecommunities.net The East Midlands’ Urban implications of 5. There should be focuses on community Partnership Group (UPG) locating new more public and participation and place is holding an Addressing developments away professional management. It explores from existing awareness of the how developments can City Flight event in infrastructure. There importance of great become socially, Leicester on 19th May as was a strong design and place economically and part of the wider UPG consensus that we making. environmentally initiative facilitated by should instead focus The full report is available sustainable, building in on improving and resident involvement and Regeneration East on line increasing densities http://www.hcaacademy.c engagement from the Midlands. UPG in existing towns and o.uk/node/490 start. Coordinator Susan cities. Hallsworth is offering a Regeneration East Midlands project Ep2 limited number of free places to RCE staff – e- website goes live mails of interest to Hosted by Regeneration programme is managed library, among other tools. susan@regenerationem.c East Midlands, the by Regeneration East o.uk. Confirmed speakers Enterprising People, Midlands and funded Ep2 is unique because it include Richard Simmons Enterprising Places (Ep2) through the East Midlands is about releasing the from CABE and themes website is now up and Development Agency. capacity within running. Ep2 is a new communities to carry out include quality of housing, skills programme for The website – regeneration for local services and people that work or live in www.ep2online.org – themselves. The amenities and raising the disadvantaged areas in highlights the Ep2 programme consists of a profile of urban living. the East Midlands and programme, outlines the series of innovative tools http://www.urbanpartners who are committed to policy behind it and offers and techniques for regeneration. The Ep2 a downloadable Ep2 regeneration practitioners. hipgroup.org.uk/ sustainable voice Page 4 of 8 Design for London to manage Great Spaces The Mayor of London Londoners and visitors will Projects that have been Boris Johnson recently want to use and enjoy. developed as part of other announced plans for a Projects at any stage of public space initiatives will ‘Great Spaces’ initiative their development can be be welcomed by the panel which will champion submitted by London and can be endorsed as existing public spaces that boroughs for assessment exemplary public realm currently have poor by the Mayor’s design projects, and supported by access or are panel, led by Deputy the programme on the unwelcoming and Mayor for Planning and same basis as any unattractive. Design for Policy Simon Milton. project, including those Design for London is a London will set up, Successful projects will be supported through other small, flexible team which administer and manage adopted and accredited as Mayoral initiatives like the maximises its influence by the Great Spaces a Mayor’s ‘Great Space’ Priority Parks Programme, forging partnerships with initiative. and benefit from top Street Trees Initiative and quality, specialist advice Green Grid and those relevant bodies in the The aim is to help from Design for London, projects that have been design and development transform some of the which advises the Mayor part of the previous sectors in London. It city’s better as well as on ensuring design Mayor’s 100 Public welcomes the active lesser known streets, excellence in all projects Spaces programme. participation of squares, parks and that are commissioned or riverside walks into places funded by the GLA Group. organisations and individuals who are working to make London Urban Design London unveils 2009-10 a better place in which to training programme live, work and visit. Urban Design London has tools and skills involved in their network. unveiled its brand new 8 new masterclasses UDL is funded and 2009-10 training looking at tricky but managed by London programme, which is now vital important design Councils, Transport for available for download by issues London, the London visiting their website here: The brochure lists all Development Agency and www.urbandesignlondon.c events they are running CABE. UDL also runs a om. It includes around 80 from April 2009 to March subscription service for separate sessions 2010. Boroughs where each including: authority has a set Monthly guided site UDL offers support to number of pre paid Urban Design London visits to exemplar London authorities, places. General attendees (UDL) helps all London schemes offering significant can book online through A one day training, but also UDL website at authorities achieve better- introduction to urban facilitating a network of www.urbandesignlondon.c designed environments design course interested officers and om. Places may be through support, training 12 different streets Design Champion available for RCE staff – and networking and planning based Councillors. They are send an e-mail of interest foundation sessions increasingly seeing non to Esther Kurland: opportunities. UDL is 8 new workshops authority people attending esther.kurland@urbandesi supported by London looking at key design their events and getting gnlondon.com Councils, Transport for London (TfL), London Michaela Galler joins Integreat Yorkshire Development Agency (LDA), and the Commission Michaela Galler has joined experience from both the Yorkshire Forward and as the Integreat team as PA private and public sector, a Sales Manager in the for Architecture and the to the Programme previously working in the Automotive sector, Built Environment (CABE). Director. Michaela brings Economic Inclusion travelling regularly to a wide range of Director’s office at Germany to visit clients. Page 5 of 8 sustainable voice
Places Matter! appoints North West design
leaders Places Matter! the Northwest Design Review The Places Matter! Since its creation in Architecture and Built Panel, a free and impartial Education programme will 2007 Places Matter! has Environment Centre for service for local be taken forward by Jo the Northwest has brought authorities, developers Harrop, who joins the proved a resounding on new team members to and designers. Martin also team as Education success. With further take its programme of sits on the MADE (West Manager from Wigan funding until 2012 the activities forward to 2012. Midlands) Design Review Council where she has team look forward to panel and before been acting as driving an innovative Following a recruitment becoming Chair was a Programme Manager for drive in early 2009, Places member of the Northwest the Greenheart Regional and expanding Matter! has brought new Design Review Panel from Park Programme. programme of built expertise into its its creation in 2007. Through Places Matter! environment activities in Northwest Design Review Education Jo will provide the region. Panel including a new The new panel represents a strategic focus and Chair, appointed a full a variety of expertise from advocate for good quality time Education Manager the fields of urban design, design amongst a wider and recruited a Chair for architecture, sustainable audience with an the Places Matter! design, planning, emphasis on 14 – 19 year Advisory Group. Martin landscape architecture olds. Stockley joins Places and many other Matter! as Chair of the disciplines.
Inspire East busy with Funding East event,
Winter School, Empowerment road shows Biodiversity boost for Funding East holds Norwich on Tuesday 17 were attended by Local South East Ten event - A Funding East March. In addition to the Authority officers and organisations, including event was held in usual networking members, LSP partners SEEDA, Natural Cambridge on Tuesday 3 opportunities there was and the voluntary and England, the National March. Topics covered also a chance to look at community sector. included funding news Participatory Budgeting Trust and the Forestry from the Church Urban and to discover the origins View presentations from Commission have Fund and Awards for All, of our venue, The Kings Inspire East’s Winter signed up to the South information and advice on Centre through a tour of School - Inspire East held East England soft outcomes from SOUL the building. their most successful Record research, details of Winter School yet, selling Biodiversity Forum’s Inspire East’s enabling Empowerment out completely despite the Strategy to improve the service and a guide to Roadshows - The snow. View all the region’s biodiversity. Local Strategic Regional Empowerment presentations by clicking The aim is to achieve Partnerships (LSPs). Partnership held a series the link here: an overarching There was also a chance of one day empowerment http://tiny.cc/C3zzw to discuss the implications roadshows in March to approach to the region’s of the current economic demystify the ecosystem to help climate on funding. empowerment white paper reduce the cost of and provide an insight into managing flooding and Community empowerment activity in Development Network the region. These events pollution as well as arrives in Norwich -The contributing to improved Community Development health and well being. Network gathered in sustainable voice Page 6 of 8
South East Excellence facilitates cross-
cutting CPD for built environment South East Excellence is professional organisations where there are gaps in currently working with the such as the Royal Institute CPD provision in order to Construction Industry of British Architects develop the skills required Council South East (CIC (RIBA), the Royal Institute to address the current SE) to take a closer look of Town Planners (RTPI) economic climate and at what the Continuing and the Chartered eventual upturn. The Scottish Centre for Professional Development Institute of Housing (CIH). Regeneration runs three (CPD) expectations are The work will also identify cross-Government for the members of the learning networks that respond to needs Scottish Centre for Regeneration launches expressed by people and organisations working in new learning networks regeneration: Community The web portal of the and Sustainable have an interest in Regeneration; Tackling Scottish Centre for Communities. These three regeneration but come Regeneration initiative networks help from different sectors and Poverty Town Centres Partners in Regeneration - regeneration practitioners disciplines. and Local High Streets; www.partnersinregenerati learn from other people and Mixed and on.com - lets people and facing the same problems, The Scottish Centre for Sustainable Communities. organisations easily network online and hear Regeneration helps to access evidence, about events and achieve Scottish These networks give expertise and excellence programmes. Government’s Purpose, practical help to those in regeneration. Its Targets and National working at a local level resources - including The initiative is managed Outcomes through and connect people from research, tools and case by the Scottish Centre for supporting public, private across Scotland. studies - help address keyRegeneration, part of and voluntary sector regeneration issues. Scottish Government, in delivery partners to partnership with other become more effective at The initiative’s Learning regeneration regeneration. Visit the Networks include organisations in Scotland. centre’s website: Community Regeneration; It has been developed http://www.scotland.gov.u Tackling Poverty with the organisations that k/Topics/Built- Town Centres and Local make up the Partners in Environment/regeneration/ High Streets; and Mixed Regeneration network. All pir/about
RegenWM team plants 113 trees in The
The RegenWM team planted 113 trees in The National Forest for 2009 Prizewinners National Forest, one for On 24th March the The RegenWM Prizes that are today being RegenWM team planted celebrate the success of a turned into regeneration each of the RegenWM 113 trees in The National wide variety of outcomes for the region. Prizes 2008 entries. Forest, one for each of the regeneration projects The National Forest is a Full details and case RegenWM Prizes 2008 across the West Midlands. studies on the 2008 Prizes forest in the making, entries. This will be the The prizes programme winners are on the covering 200 square fourth year that RegenWM depends on the RegenWM website – miles of central England has planted trees as part enthusiasm and www.regenwm.org. across parts of of the Prizes process – to dedication of the entrants. support The National Through the Prizes Derbyshire, Forest project (a previous RegenWM recognise and Leicestershire and RegenWM Prizes winner). share the fantastic ideas Staffordshire. Page 7 of 8 sustainable voice RCEs deemed ‘impressive’ and ‘excellent’ in CABE light touch review Creating Excellence and partnership with CABE the The clear message of the RegenWM received results have been review is that CABE has positive mention in a light impressive. Design South made and continues to touch review undertaken West, a strategic alliance make a real difference to Design South West, by The Commission for of all the key the quality of places and hosted by Creating Architecture and the Built organisations and buildings in England. The Excellence, and Environment (CABE) agencies in the region that reviewers made five RegenWM were recently between May and July is focused on influencing recommendations cited in a light touch 2008. The review was a the quality of the built including: joint exercise between environment, is jointly -That the sponsor review of the Commission DCMS, CLG and CABE. funded by Creating departments work with for Architecture and the The reviewers were asked Excellence (the regional CABE to more actively Built Environment to consider four areas: centre for sustainable and methodically engage (CABE). Positive Alignment; communities) and CABE.” in the planning system statements indicate the Capability and Later it states: “In the through the new regional impact; West Midlands – a more structure impressive results of Focus, effectiveness compact and urbanised - That CABE undertakes a Design South West and and efficiency; and region than the South review of its learning and the excellent partnerships Departmental and West – excellent dissemination strategy, to in the West Midlands other key partnerships have been make sure that it utilises relationships. built with the key agencies its experience of the last 9 including RegenWM. Advantage West Midlands years to drive the design Regarding CABE’s work (the RDA), MADE (the quality agenda forward at a regional level, the regional architecture - That CABE makes more review makes positive centre) and RegenWM explicit how it assesses mention of two Regional which is working to the effectiveness of its Centres of Excellence – improve regeneration activities Creating Excellence and skills and encourage the RegenWM, stating: pursuit of excellence in Find the full review here: “Where the RDA and order to secure a http://www.cep.culture.gov other bodies active in a sustainable future the .uk/images/publications/C region have joined in region.” ABE_LTR.pdf Regeneration East Midlands RCE assists District Council’s ‘innovative’ is helping the North West regeneration, as reviewed by the IDeA Leicestershire District Council to regenerate North West Leicestershire it was assessed by the Panel Manager Coalville (pictured) through District Council has the Audit Commission. A commented: “North West report written by the IDeA Leicestershire District its Architecture Centre, potential to be one of the best in the country, has cited the innovative Council is a proactive Opun, which runs the East according to an progress in vision and authority, keen to improve Midlands Design Review independent review by the leadership made by the the physical environment Panel. The Improvement Improvement and North West Leicestershire for people who live and and Development Agency Development Agency District Council, and in work in the district by (IDeA). The East Midlands particular its progress in setting high design (IDeA) recently cited the Design Review Panel, regenerating Coalville. standards. They have Council’s innovative managed by Opun used the design review progress in regenerating architecture centre at Opun, the East Midlands process to its full potential, Coalville in their Peer Regeneration East Architecture Centre at bringing schemes to Regeneration East review and taking District Challenge. Photo Midlands, has helped the council to get there. Midlands, has played a advantage of the copyright Jim Cartwright, strong role in supporting opportunity for staff to 0116 279 6502 The IDeA review, which the authority through the observe at other review took place at the end of expertise of its Regional meetings, leading to more 2008, concluded that the Design Review Panel. effective pre-application Council has made real Kate Lockhart, East discussions.” progress since 2004 when Midlands Design Review Integreat Yorkshire introduces the Great Briefs Series sustainable voice Integreat Yorkshire is forum for open discussion and Regeneration. The introducing The Great and debate across a briefing provides a Briefs series to stimulate number of policy and summary of the main debate and discussion delivery topics. conclusions of this report about the economic and with some commentary on social issues that are The first Great Brief event what the Sub National impacting on our focuses on economic Review will mean for communities and the policy with an overview of organisations in Yorkshire Issue 11 region. the recent policy and Humber. The free-of- April 2009 publication, which outlines charge session will be Each month, they will the Government’s held on 15th April in A monthly publish a Great Brief and response to the Leeds at the Round newsletter of the follow it up with a lively consultation on the Foundry Media Centre Sustainable networking event, which Review of Sub-National from 3.20 - 5.30pm. To Communities will unpack the key Economic Development book call 0113 394 9681. Excellence challenges and provide a Network. South East Excellence makes regional push Submissions for good design deadline for the A two day workshop to A design capacity audit Initial feedback from the May 2009 issue: start the process of carried out before the seminar reports a strong 15th April. developing a design workshop revealed that determination between the Send to: action plan for the Growth most of the 11 local authorities to investigate info@scen.org.uk Point in the Partnership authorities in the PUSH resources sharing, as well for Urban South area have some design as trying to ensure Hampshire Area (PUSH) capacity, although this is common principles in took place in February. It often development control Local Development hosted a range of focused and is not Frameworks. international and national consistent across all speakers including Stirling authorities. As CABE’s Simon Eden, lead Chief Prize winner Keith Bradley Sarah Allan says ‘we are Executive for the Quality for Accordia from Feilden trying to develop a Places Delivery Panel, Clegg Bradley and Kobus diagnostic approach so said ‘I am really Mentz from Urbanisms+ in that design can play its encouraged by the shared New Zealand, as well as part in helping to manage commitment to excellent having an expert panel the Growth agenda. This design in our local (including representatives workshop and the authorities. By working from CABE, ATLAS, PAS research preceding it will together we can make a and SEEDA) to offer help the local authorities real difference for our advice and guidance to to provide greater communities’. the PUSH partners leadership in delivering throughout the process. high levels of growth’.
Busy Inspire East Regional Design Review
reviews Eco Community The Inspire East Regional presentations by the to sustainable Design Review Panel developers, Building development. A report will recently undertook a Partnerships and Barratt be issued in the next few review of the proposed Homes, the design team, weeks to the developer Rackheath Eco lead by David Thompson and planning authorities. Community which is being of LSI Architects, as well promoted in the CLG Eco as presentations from Spring proved a busy time Towns initiative. The Broadland District Council for the design review review took place on the and Norfolk County service, with an additional 26th February, over the Council. The day panel day being put on in course of a whole day, facilitated interesting and March in order to meet and included a site visit thought provoking debate demand and enabling 8 and in-depth and highlighted a schemes to be reviewed comprehensive approach altogether.