Design in the planning system: sustainable placemaking in action

Report of North Ayrshire training event - 6 April 20

Sustainable placemaking training

Case Study on North Ayrshire training event produced by A+DSs Urbanism Programme Background
The Climate Change (S) Act 2009 has set ambitious carbon reduction targets, and a legislative requirement exists for development plans to help achieve sustainable development and limit greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) also notes the importance of supporting sustainable development through the location, layout and design of new development. A+DS and SNH are working jointly, and in association with Improvement Services, to deliver a sustainable placemaking programme with the spatial planning system. The aim is to build capacity at local level through a learning by doing approach to visionary spatial planning, and to gather evidence about how placeshaping is structured and delivered in practice. The first pilot project was to facilitate a training day for North Ayrshire, attended by Council officers from a range of backgrounds including development planning, development management, regeneration, access and biodiversity. This report summarises the content of the event and highlights key learning points. Copies of the presentations and other good practice material are referenced in the final section. The format is:
Page 3-4 5 6-7 8 9-11 12-13 16 17 18 18-23

Making better plans: an overview Introduction Session 1: defining the challenge: place is a public good [ppt1] Session 2: setting parameters: scenario planning Session 3: urban form: a basis for meeting climate change challenges [ppt2] Session 4: developing quality parameters: two scenarios [discussion] Session 5: placemaking briefs by design: Case study [ppt3] Session 6: conclusions Session 7: action plan Session 8: further information and references

Making better plans: an overview

Sustainable Placemaking/Making Better Plans is a 3 year programme that helps to facilitate sustainable placemaking through spatial plan-making processes. The aim is to deliver better resilient placemaking outcomes in the form of sustainable economic growth, and places where people want to be. The purpose is to: develop a smart decision-making framework to aid the development of spatial policy build skills and capacity through practical learning by doing and access to good practice gather evidence, through engaging with plan making processes, about how placeshaping is being structured and delivered in practice, in order to develop recommendations for further action

Key to the programme is a central set of questions: what does a sustainable place look like, and how can the next generation of ambitious and visionary development plans guide what goes where and why in terms of delivering better quality outcomes that target a low carbon future. The programme will be implemented through quarterly events that focus on a range of live spatial planning and placemaking conditions which replicate across the country to better understand how and why certain challenges to delivering better places emerge and recur, and how practical solutions might be formulated through working with local contexts. An overview of the lessons learned will be gathered and disseminated to build knowledge and improve practice.

Making better plans: an overview...

In broad terms, the objectives of the programme are: Year 1 - develop a clearer understanding of the typology of contexts and issues that inhibit the creation of better places, through working with those engaged in the plan making process. Lessons learned will be captured as a set of recommendations for action, and form a basis for a forum that pulls policy, practice and investment interests together to refine the scope for year 2. Year 2 - scope out a set of propositions for changes in policy and practice on the basis of the learning from year 1. The lessons learned will again be drawn together to focus in on a set of action points and share knowledge, and inform the scope for year 3. Year 3 - test the change propositions at a range of scales and a range of contexts. On the basis of the lessons learned across the 3 years, a final report will recommend further action for Scottish Government, Local Government, and practice [design, planning, and development]

Outcomes sought from the programme will include: Practical input to selected live projects, to help plan-making across a range of contexts Overcome silo approaches and link policy and practice through the interaction of participants Evidence about policy and practice: what works, why, what should change and by whom? Enhanced evidence based knowledge to improve practice Actions in the form of recommendations for policy change, practice improvement and research

The proposed outputs will include: Quarterly reports on dedicated events that include: presentational material, specialist input, case studies of good practice and reference material. These reports will build up to become a useful and practical source of information regarding sustainable placemaking in Scotland. Annual reports of lessons learned, that include recommendations for further action A final report with recommendations for further action for Scottish Government, Local Government, and practice [design, planning, and development]

Introduction
The training events are jointly sponsored by A+DS and SNH in collaboration with Improvement Services (IS), the RTPI, the Key Agencies Group (KAG) and other partners. The aim of working with live spatial planning and placemaking conditions which replicate across Scotland is to understand why challenges in delivering better places emerge and recur, and how practical solutions might be formed through working with the local contexts. North Ayrshire Council faces several challenges, and has identified five key areas of change in its Main Issues Report (MIR): New Uses for Old Sites; The Future of our Town Centres; Rural, Coastal and Island Development; How Much Housing and Where?; and, Providing Infrastructure. Regeneration and economic development feature prominently as key issues for the area, and Irvine Bay Regeneration Company has proposed a number of Strategic Interventions focussing on Jobs and wealth; Glasgow and city region; The coast; Enhancing the environment; and, Changing perceptions. These major challenges were confirmed by those participating in the event who, in an initial introductory session, identified the need for site specific design guidance in relation to national and major projects that included Hunterston, the proposed replacement of the Magnum Centre, Ayrshire Central Hospital, harbour side and other proposals in relation to the URC. A+DS has reported on some of these projects through its Design Review function. Other considerations raised by participants were of a thematic / policy nature and included: connectivity (including the core path plan and outdoor strategy), catering for housing demand, addressing issues where the original planning consent was no longer viable due to changed circumstances, and how to apply the principles of Designing Places and Designing Streets in a local context. North Ayrshire planning authority is well advanced in producing its local development plan, and has an established series of design guidance; including Coastal Design Guidance, Rural Design Guidance, Neighbourhood Design Guidance and Town Centre Design Guidance. The training event was therefore specifically targeted towards finer scaled supplementary guidance issues concerning the briefing for masterplans or site specific design guidance, rather than larger scaled settlement strategies. The event comprised a mix of presentations, scenario planning method and group discussions to interweave broad considerations relating to climate change, regeneration and design. Post event feedback was positive and predominantly ranked sessions as good / excellent. The most helpful aspects were practical sessions which looked at how essential qualities could be communicated for two spatial scenarios a walkable urban village, and a regenerating neighbourhood.

Kilwinning Main Street, Irvine Bay URC

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Hunterston Power Station, A+DS Design Review

Session 1: defining the challenge: place is a public good [ppt1]

(The powerpoint for this session is available here) Significant amounts of legislation, policy and guidance exist to help meet the challenge of delivering a low carbon Scotland this information needs to be translated to suit the local context. Much is in the form of technical standards or mandatory requirements that cover energy, waste, insulation or renewable targets. However, sustainable placemaking is deeply rooted in cultural factors and people outcomes that enable how we live, and what we do. An initial provocation that place is a public good which enables life choices and opportunities drew on two recent papers with implications for the public sector - a Scottish Government publication identifies leadership and long term stewardship as crucial qualities in Delivering Better Places, and Newman and Kenworthys paper describes a holistic view of urban sustainability, where places where people want to be balance quality of life issues with environmental and waste management. Sustainable placemaking is not limited to the creation of new places; it is a concept for the management of all places in all contexts. The amount of carbon/greenhouse gases (GHGs) produced by a development can vary dramatically depending on design decisions. Walkable neighbourhoods with poor quality pedestrian and cycle routes may generate high traffic movements. Quality of life and liveability considerations are key to making successful places, and this involves resource management, planning, visioning, policy, implementation and leadership. Sustainable places are reliant on creating different sorts of qualities: Quality of life, Quality of services and Quality of design. Each of these qualities operates across . tangible/physical and non-tangible/behavioural aspects which are: 1. 2. 3. 4. Direct (quality of houses, transport, public space, shops, education, jobs, etc) Indirect (health, safety, image and perception of the social environment, etc) External (air quality, neighbourhood effects and noise) Distributional (Income, employment, ripple-effect). making the best use of the public estate making the most of existing assets and resources ensuring that every investment generates wider positive impacts

Delivering Better Places, Scottish Government Publication

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Sustainable placemaking involves:

A+DSs Learning Towns initiative was used to illustrate how existing civic assets can be utilised and strengthened, and how future capital investment can be targeted at the whole place to deliver better people outcomes. Decision making needs to be guided by scale considerations. Scottish Planning Policy (para 16) identifies that infrastructure to support development should be addressed through development plans, and not on a site by site basis through the development management process. It is also not possible to supply everything in every location; how places are networked and interlinked becomes very important.

A+DS, Learning Town diagram

Session 1: defining the challenge: place is a public good [ppt1]...

Under section 72 of the Climate Change (S) Act 2009 development plans require development to help achieve climate change targets. The development plan needs to set out and maintain a spatial vision for the whole place that extends beyond topic issues. This challenge is met by promoting spatial strategies across different scales: whole settlement strategies influence location, layout and urban structure, with detailed considerations such as built height form and massing being more appropriately covered at the scale of masterplan or site specific guidance. In pursuing sustainable economic growth there is a concern that economic growth is regarded simply in terms of spatial expansion. A growing economy is dependent upon the 3 interdependent sectors of public, private and third sector. Design as it operates through the planning system is the vehicle that can pull these complex and disparate factors together. Key learning points from session 1: Key learning points from session 1: Sustainable placemaking necessitates a whole place approach with a focus on enabling better outcomes for people; liveability considerations are key; sustainability issues relate to all contexts and guidance needs to be tailored to local circumstances. The public sector has a critical role as place shaper to provide leadership and place stewardship, and ensure the best use is made of assets, and that every investment generates the widest possible benefits (e.g. green networks also support healthy travel options along with SUDS). The development plan needs to set out a whole place spatial vision that goes beyond topic issues. Key principles extracted from SPP (paras 38 & 39, 2010): The location of new development should: Promote regeneration and reuse of previously developed land Reduce the need for travel Promote the development of mixed communities

Layout and design of new development should: Encourage use of public transport and active travel Promote efficient use of land, buildings and infrastructure Encourage energy efficiency through the orientation and design of buildings

Session 2: setting parameters: scenario planning

This session used a scenario planning method to rapidly test spatial and quality implications of design decisions which have consequences for the whole place. Individual teams acted out real life competing agendas - maximise short term profit; generate uplift in land values; promote environmental considerations; apply a renewables premium upon any development - by placing different land use tiles on a gaming board in an incremental ad-hoc manner. Each tile has associated values that enable the cumulative effects of land use decisions to be quantified at the end of the session. The final figures revealed that from 121 tiles played, a considerable number of houses (1943) and people (4584) had been accommodated. However, the scoring indicated that it would not be possible to deliver community facilities. The carbon, health and walking scores also showed the poor quality of what was being proposed, and that the sum of the individual actions would not add up to create a sustainable place. The session demonstrated the difficulties that planning authorities face when mediating between conflicting tensions, and the danger to sustainable placemaking of accommodating development where a strategic guiding vision is lacking. It also initiated discussion about long term stewardship and maintenance, harmful displacement issues that may result (e.g. lack of affordable housing and mix of type and tenure), and realisation that if Climate Change reduction targets are to be achieved then existing physical and/or organisational structures need to be tackled. In a similar vein to the charrette series that is being promoted by the Scottish Government, the gaming method provides a mechanism to quickly test spatial options, identify and communicate essential guiding principles relating to location, urban structure and built form, and aid the development of briefs that control the production of masterplans or other design guidelines. Key learning points from session 2: Methodologies exist to rapidly test spatial options, and measure consequences of design decisions. Sustainable placemaking requires a whole-place guiding vision to help mediate between conflicting tensions; this needs to work across, and consider, different spatial scales. The development plan needs to communicate essential guiding principles relating to location, urban structure and built form.

Session 3: urban form: a basis for meeting climate change challenges [ppt2]
(The powerpoint for this session is available here) The Scottish Government policy document Designing Places can be used to assess place qualities (which closely match qualities identified in By Design): 1. Identity (distinct character) 2. Safe and pleasant spaces (clear distinction between public and private space) 3. Sense of welcome (lively public space & the ability to make strangers feel welcome) 4. Ease of movement (convenient access) 5. Adaptability (the capacity to adapt to change) 6. Good use of resources (mix of uses) Behind the terminology is a set of simple concepts that relate to form. Urban form is the physical expression of place qualities; it shapes place, and can be expressed in the following aspects: Urban structure [the essential diagram of the place] a few key lines to explain spatial distributions, networks (Blue/Green/Red/Grey), hierarchies of routes and patial Blue/Green/Red/Grey), spaces, character areas/neighbourhoods and major civic institutions; and interaction with landscape - natural features, topography, ecology. Accessibility [the relative opportunities for mobility] the distribution, integration and frequency of modal choices; both strategic and local. Density + Mix [the quantum, type and inter-relationship of land uses] the distribution, intensity, type and mix, both vertically and horizontally; a strong relationship exists between use, density and key routes (or urban structure); density (housing or commercial) affects viability and local vitality. Height + Massing [the size and shape of buildings in relation to other development] - landmarks, views, building shoulder height, setbacks, shadow projections, impact on privacy and sunlight penetration. Relative scale is important - not only to each other, . but also to that of a human being. Streetscape + Landscape [the design and management of the public spaces] - the public realm is extremely important and should always be considered; strategic ; landscape, green infrastructure, green networks, local open spaces, public spaces; how they are linked and networked. Sustainability [the relative performance against use of assets, decision making, living and waste] standards against which urban form is measured against on a place specific basis.
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Designing Places, Scottish Government Publication

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Session 3: urban form: a basis for meeting climate change challenges [ppt2]...
Aspects of form and qualities (e.g. Designing Places) can be related. In certain contexts, depending on the nature and scale of the place, some quality/form interactions are more important than others. The adjacent matrix is an aid to go beyond generalisations (e.g. in character) and ask more insightful questions such as What is the relationship between density and legibility? The matrix allows for a wide range of relationships to be considered - e.g. building height to density, to street vitality, to landmarks, to enclosure, to natural surveillance, to sunlight, to adaptability. A thorough understanding of relationships will reveal where compromise and trade-off needs to take place. In this context it is important to establish and fix the must haves which are the few non-negotiables that must happen in order to make the bigger idea work. The next stage is to identify both the discretionary variables and quality ranges that are best achieved through defining performance criteria. The non-negotiables and discretionary variables must be balanced on the basis of the original guiding vision: the starting position is to ask what kind of place are we trying to create..and then to test everything against the answer.

A+DS, Principles of urban form matrix

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Key learning points from session 3: Cross relating place qualities and built form aspects can enable better informed decision making. Essential non-negotiable and less essential discretionary variables must be communicated; this process is guided by an overall vision of what is to be delivered. Spatial planning must ask what does it look like / what will the user experience feel like?



Clonburris: a case study of urban structure:

Clonburris is a proposed major expansion area in South Dublin [www.clonburris.ie]. The principle of the proposed development is to achieve an eco district where the sustainable choice is the easiest choice for citizens, institutions and investors. To enable these choices, the urban structure of the district has been organised to maximise access to public transport and town centre uses for all neighbourhoods in the district. The key diagram for Clonburris sets out the key principles of the overall urban structure: the black lines indicate the primary street system; the green lines indicate the secondary street system which feed the neighbourhoods and the primary street system; and the grey lines indicate the local street systems. Using the principles of urban form set out in the matrix on p10, the diagram for Clonburris can be analysed as follows: Urban structure: a series of urban blocks with hierarchies of routes, streets, squares and public spaces are identified which connect into wider networks Accessibility: a continuous high quality walkable fabric is set out which links with the adjacent context and incorporates public transport connections Density + Mix: land uses, density and mix are described Height + Massing: view corridors are maintained; building shoulder height, setbacks, shadow projections, and impact on privacy and sunlight penetration are shown Streetscape + Landscape: major frontages are identified; the public realm is linked and continuous; strategic landscape is shown incorporating streets, squares and public spaces Sustainability: a high quality environment is illustrated and supported with different metrics

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Session 4: developing quality parameters: two scenarios [discussion]

Separate groups discussed how essential qualities of two spatial scenarios a walkable urban village, and a regenerated neighbourhood - could be communicated to inform the briefing for either masterplan or site specific design guidance. These scenarios were developed to illustrate two different ways of tackling the issue of how to develop places: The urban village model seeks to achieve a discreet form of development which solves a set of local problems. The internal identity of this place is small, intimate, comfortable, differentiated from the surrounding context. It does not seek to solve strategic problems. The regenerated neighbourhood/urban transformation model seeks to tackle the strategic issues, re-thinking transport infrastructure as people places, connecting neighbourhoods, setting in place a strategic service delivery framework. This is a different form of regeneration, a more complex form of planning and implementation. A walkable urban village Aspects in relation to built form that were identified included: Urban structure: a central identifiable heart; possibly based on an existing asset a built or landscape feature; a legible hierarchy of primary, secondary and tertiary routes, providing a well-connected system Accessibility: a 5 or 10 minute walk band (that accommodates approximately 2500 people); an integrated public transport system; high quality pedestrian links generally and to rail station on the village edge; car parking permitted but restricted in the inner core Density + Mix: a mixture of uses with public/civic uses located towards the centre, and along major routes Height + Massing: building heights generally 2 storeys, rising up to 5 storeys along major routes and at the core Streetscape + Landscape: High quality pedestrian and cycle routes that link to the core Sustainability: the importance of ensuring a quality built environment that achieves high liveability standards Critique of a walkable urban village: Major issues related to scale (e.g. where is employment located? How is energy and waste managed?) and recognised that the masterplan level is not sufficient to address all considerations; this needs to link into broader strategies at a higher scale, and inform the briefing process to guide the production of a masterplan.

1. A central heart is identified, along with the location of major services

2. A hierarchy of primary, secondary and tertiary routes is shown that enables a continuous walkable environment

3. A green network is identified which incorporates SUDS and creates high quality pedestrian and leisure routes

4. Major building frontages are shown, along with height and massing



Session 4: developing quality parameters: two scenarios [discussion] ...

A regenerated neighbourhood Aspects in relation to built form that were identified included: Urban structure: work to improve what already exists; improve legibility Accessibility: reduce traffic impact (apply Designing Streets); improve pedestrian and cycling conditions; connect up streets wherever possible Density + Mix: seek to improve what exists; consider opportunities for removal of inappropriate or restrictive uses Height + Massing: varies according to context; explore opportunities for civic/ public real highlights Streetscape + Landscape: improve public realm experience; link with wider landscape / parks / green space networks Sustainability: seek to improve liveability considerations through tackling the challenges of what already exists

Critique of a regenerated neighbourhood: Although the more live scenario, it is possibly the more difficult and complex to plan for and communicate. Challenges exist in relation to: addressing issues out with boundary edges, which may relate to social or economic inequality influencing how large infrastructure investments can be delivered implementation, where ownership is fragmented or equalisation agreements may be required. The major arterial is re-considered as a public space that links rather than divides. The road is considered in shorter lengths to create different character zones along the length of the route. Different experiences are generated which suggest different uses. A continuous high quality public realm is advocated that stitches into the surrounding context. Conclusion The greatest challenge is to seek to improve on what already exists and to generate wider benefit from any investment; therefore, the area under consideration needs to be considered in a wider social, economic and physical context. In certain instances it is necessary to break eggs (i.e. address existing conditions) to achieve optimum results.


Two Case Studies:

Two regeneration case studies have been selected as projects which can offer positive lessons in a North Ayrshire context. Each deals with the legacy of postindustrial issues, and seeks to capitalise on the unique assets of the place. Case study 1: Urban village - St. Marys Island

The regeneration of St. Marys Island in the Thames Gateway involves a 150 acre residential redevelopment by Countryside Maritime - a joint venture between SEEDA and Countryside Properties (UK) Limited - which forms part of the 350 acre Chatham Maritime regeneration project. The former dockland site, which was highly contaminated through shipbuilding and repair, has been regenerated as an ecologically sound and environmentally friendly mixed use development. Phase 1 of this project was a development called Fishermans Village. It was a competition which put in place principles for recreating a local, village scale maritime building typology, Essex design form of street layout, and transformation of the waters edge as a public amenity. Residential led, the scheme is designed as a living place with its own character, and links to the surrounding urban settlements for higher order retail, major transport and employment. The Village has a well-developed infrastructure designed to promote community integration. All amenities are within easy walking distance, and a regular public bus service provides links to nearby towns. Efforts have been made to minimise car presence, and the whole of the Island is pedestrian friendly and networked with footpaths and cycle-ways. Site planning has taken account of passive solar gain and shelter from prevailing winds. Structured cabling has been installed to enable home working. Many original buildings have been retained and converted for modern use or retained as historical features. In terms of key lessons from this case study for the urban village scenario, it is interesting to note the way in which the first phase sought to create a distinct identity by creating a new local vernacular of buildings and streets. Further details on this case study can be accessed here on the archived CABE website.



Case study 2: Regenerated neighbourhood Ballymun, Dublin Ballymun is a public led regeneration project that tackles physical and social issues in an area of North Dublin. Ballymun was one of the few locations in Ireland where tower block development was put in place. Over time, the area suffered from a series of social and economic problems. On this basis, the decision was taken to regenerate the area, using transformation of the built environment as a key instrument of change. Within the regeneration strategy, severance of the communities by the transport infrastructure, creation of a series of livable neighbourhoods and structuring of a vibrant and viable town centre were identified among the priorities for action. The residential densities supported by the tower block development were relatively modest, but the overall form of development in Ballymun sought to position these buildings in separated large areas of open space. Transport movements dominated, and pedestrian movements were separated from the street. The result was a series of generally poor quality spaces, and spatial experiences, together with a set of town centre uses that did not meet the full needs of the community. The regeneration strategy developed a proposal to humanise the street, transforming the transport infrastructure into a tree lined avenue. Buildings were proposed to line the street, and a new civic space was created. Each phase of re-development of the tower blocks were integrated into the main street through carefully considered street hierarchies. The developing town centre now includes park areas, a major City Council office facility, Health Service facilities, a public leisure centre, student accommodation, a new hotel and renewed shopping areas. The key lessons from Ballymun for the transformation scenario relates to concept: there was a clear concept for the transfromation of the road into a street which was both possible and plausible. The concept drove major public investment and set a framework for private investments in the area. The key issue with the concept is that it was articulated to a range of stakeholders at the earliest stage of the project to enable buy in. Further information on the Ballymun project is available at this website: http://www.brl.ie/

Key learning points from session 4: The exercise identified that it is possible to communicate (in graphics) essential principles to guide urban form this is easier when selfcontained, and more challenging in contexts that need to deal with wider implications The level of the masterplan is not sufficient to address all considerations, and this needs to link into, and be guided by, broader strategies at a higher scale. In certain instances it is necessary to break eggs to achieve the best results.

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Session 5: placemaking briefs by design: Case Study [ppt3]

(The powerpoint for this session is available here) The final presentation of the day illustrated a worked example of the production of Placemaking Briefs by design, taken from the recent Design Skills Symposium held in Dundee. The sequence of slides demonstrated how participants at the Symposium, from a range of professional backgrounds, had worked collaboratively to develop a set of guiding principles for the Intensification and transformation of a site on the periphery of Dundee. The key moves were summarised in relation to aspects of built form as being: Streets and structure A street pattern is created that builds on the existing roads and infrastructure A new street hierarchy is proposed in which primary streets relate to public transport proposals. Existing green space is enhanced, connections improved and active frontages provided Public open space A new network of public open spaces created ranging from formal spaces to natural green belt More formal public open space will relate directly to the neighbourhood Development will define the proposed open spaces and the edge of the green belt
Public open space

Streets and struct

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Blocks and buildings Identifiable development blocks created The block structure will be easy to subdivide The most important buildings will be sited at key points in relation to the urban structure and primary open spaces The exercise was initiated by a starting vision or simple concept of what was to be done: Break down barriers and connect green space. From this the key routes (primary and secondary streets) were identified to link with existing street patterns. Movement patterns were considered and mapped, including public transport and walk bands. From this, a basic urban structure was established, which guided a layout concept for setting out streets and urban blocks. Key learning points from session 5: The worked example demonstrated that through using processes described in this training event, it is possible to communicate essential principles to guide the preparation of masterplan or site development briefs The process needs to be guided by a long term strategic vision of what is to be achieved Sustainable placemaking is achieved through a design led approach

Blocks and buildings

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Session 6: conclusions
The structure and form of the built environment are key considerations in tackling the carbon challenge in relation to what already exists, and in ensuring better new ordinary places. These aspects - built structure and form - can be considered across different spatial scales, from large settlement strategies to more detailed masterplan and site briefs. This training event focused on issues of supplementary guidance; however, the essential lessons can be applied at all scales. At the heart of sustainable placemaking is the requirement to make places where people want to be. Critically, place is the vehicle whereby people can access better life opportunities, and where more prosperous futures can be created. This necessitates a discussion about outcomes. Quality of outcomes is not limited to issues of appearance or what it looks like; importantly, the human consequences of what is constructed must be addressed what does it feel like, and what opportunities are enabled? Design, as a problem solving mechanism, is fundamental to achieving this. Placemaking matters, not as an end in itself, but as a framework to permit better lives. The development planning systems role in this is crucial. Delivering better places does not belong to any one agency or group; it is achieved through collaborative processes and collective responsibility. The public sector has a responsibility as place shaper to provide leadership and place stewardship; ensuring that the best use is made of assets, and that every investment generates the widest possible benefits. Achieving this is dependent upon establishing a long term vision based on a whole place concept that goes beyond themed or topic headings. Different methodologies exist to test spatial planning scenarios and measure the whole place impacts of themed decision making. Planning deals with complex issues and any evaluation must consider wider implications of what is being proposed. Knock-on consequences or displacement issues must be recognised; this necessitates a requirement to work across spatial areas and scales something that the development planning system is uniquely placed to deal with. Better informed decision making will happen when aspects of built form are cross related with place qualities and outcomes. This language of design interrelates and is common across all scales, with detailed considerations being guided by broader strategies at a larger scale. The sessions demonstrated that a design led approach can communicate (in words and graphics) the essential non-negotiable principles to guide urban form across the scales from the largest settlement strategies to the more detailed site specific design guidance based on a long term strategic vision of what is to be achieved and a detailed appreciation of what the place will look and feel like.


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Session 7: action plan

This report has been produced as a practical aid to promote sustainable placemaking following the training event, and is supplemented by the further reference material listed below. A+DS and SNH are keen that the Sustainable Placemaking training event is a practical and useful experience. A+DS, SNH and Improvement Services would welcome any further comments in relation to this report or the training event in general, to supplement feedback in order to adapt and develop the training programme.

Session 8: Further information and references

On the basis of the issues and lessons from the training session, the following references are offered as resources for further thinking. Additional resources can be accessed from LUDO, the Library of Urban Design Online on the A+DS website, the SNH website, RUDI, and the archived CABE website: Copies of the powerpoint presentations are available at: Session 1: defining the challenge: place is a public good [ppt1] Session 3: urban form: a basis for meeting climate change challenges [ppt2] Session 5: placemaking briefs by design: Case Study [ppt3] [i] Climate Change and sustainability KAG - Climate Change Directory The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 introduces a new duty on public bodies to contribute towards greenhouse gas reduction targets; Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) reflects this: the need to help mitigate the causes of climate change and the need to adapt to its short and long term impacts should be taken into account in all decisions throughout the planning system. SPP, para 42. The KAG Climate Change Directory provides a one stop shop of resources and guidance available from Key and other Agencies to assist local authorities mainstream climate change considerations into their planning decisions http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/modernising/cc/ Climatechange People, Place and Planet Sustainable Placemaking is an integrated concept. Drawing on policy, practice and current thinking, A+DS have drawn together a think piece on the issues and opportunities of an integrated approach to sustainable placemaking http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/a-ds-launch-sustainable-developmentpublication
SustainablePlacemaking
Meeting the challenge of a low carbon Scotland

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Session 8: Further information and references...

Designing for Climate Change The structuring principles underpinning how we form the built environment affect the performance of buildings and spaces, and the life these spaces enable. This learning point draws out some issues, challenges and lessons from Howard Liddells work with Gaia on buildings, neighbourhoods and ecological design. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/designing-for-climate-change-learning-point92 Sust Sust is an online portal of information about sustainability in the built environment. It provides useful guidance and practical resources on the planning and implementation of sustainable building, including useful support on technology, materials and evaluation http://www.sust.org/ Scotlands Housing Expo This book was produced as a review of the masterplan and building proposals for the Housing Expo, and sets out performance specification at different levels as a resource for learning and future design. http://ww.ads.org.uk/sust/news/housing-expo-book-launched SNH - The Contribution of the Natural Heritage to Better Placemaking The quality of the natural heritage in and around settlements has an important contribution to make to place-making and sustainability. This statement outlines the contribution of the natural heritage to achieving social, economic and environmental outcomes. It also identifies the role of SNH in enhancing this contribution through its engagement in the policy and practice of place-making. The statement applies to both urban and rural settlements, and to both new and existing settlements. http://www.snh.gov.uk/about-snh/what-we-do/health-and-wellbeing/natural-heritageand-placemaking/ Low carbon Strategy for Scotland and settlement structures A+DS with Scottish Natural Heritage are exploring the relationships of settlement structures and delivery of the Low Carbon Strategy for Scotland. Part of this work includes the delivery of a recent training event to Local Authorities and key agencies, at which a Directory of advice on policies and guidance to help meet a Low Carbon Future for Scotland was launched by the Joint Agencies Group. Details on the training and the Directory are available here: http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/a-ds-snh-sustainable-placemaking-workshop

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Session 8: Further information and references...

[ii] Placemaking: learning for Scotland Delivering Better Places Scotland has created many masterplans; many have never been delivered. A key challenge for all places is to create the conditions for more successful and sustainable implementation of placemaking proposals. This research by A+DS, with RICS, the Scottish Centre for Regeneration and the University of Glasgow draws out lessons to achieve this aim from a set of case studies of successful contemporary places across Europe http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/delivering-better-places-in-scotland-2. A short learning point on the research is available here http://www.ads.org.uk/ urbanism/news/delivering-better-places Place: some principles This presentation to the Young Planners sets out some principles of an approach to placemaking which seeks to work with the structure of the place, the story of its people and shifting sets of contexts, social, cultural, economic and political http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/a-ds-address-young-planners Scotlands Sustainable Communities Initiative [SSCI] The SSCI project has gathered evidence about the concept and practice of sustainable development across Scotland. The charette series report sets out some learning about bthe charette process, and considerations of sustainable urban structure. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/AandP/Projects/SSCI/ SSCICharretteSeries/Charrette [iii] Urban Structure Scottish Urban Structures The traditional urban structures of streets, wynds, spaces and neighbourhoods have a lot to teach in terms of creating spaces for people, managing climate and organising frameworks for public life. This research by A+DS with University of Strathclyde sets out a review of some of these structures. More detailed analysis is available from the University of Strathclyde Urban Design Unit http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/what-is-the-dna-of-scottish-small-towns Working with the grain of places Scotland has a fine tradition of thinking about settlements. Geddes lays down some useful principles that can inform contemporary thinking about place making. These principles can help unlock the asset value of resources that already exist in places, enabling new forms of value to be created, more vitality and sustainability http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/value-places
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[iv] Streets Designing Streets Scottish Government policy note which sets out principles for the development of integrated street networks, and streets as places to enable more sustainable places in Scotland. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/03/22120652/0 Streets and sustainability The structure of our settlements is largely informed by the patterns of streets, as networks and as places to be. How we work with the idea of the street at all scales informs how we achieve more sustainable place outcomes. This article sets out these themes in terms of learning from abroad, the Australian experience. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/report-on-christopher-wren-presentation Re-thinking the high street The heart of places is often the high street. In recent times, the pattern of uses that characterise high streets has been challenged by different forms of retail, mobility and other consumption and investment patterns. This raises important questions about the nature of the centre of places and how we might start to think of new purposes for these places. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/town-centres-and-retailing Re-thinking streets Working with Sustrans, A+DS delivered a training event based on both the Scottish Streets policy Designing Streets and the Sustrans method for rethinking existing neighbourhood streets entitled DIY Streets. The training event enabled shared understandings of the possibilities for design in the re-making of existing street infrastructure from small interventions to re-thinking network functions. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/a-ds-s-collaborative-event-with-sustrans Sustainable Urban Form: The Modern Structure of Walkable Cities Sustainable placemaking requires us to re-consider how we live and how cities are organised. This paper, based on a lecture delivered by Michael Mehaffy, challenges theories of city making which have resulted in unsustainable urban forms, and illustrate that effective strategies exist for regenerating and making sustainable places based on a common-sense concept of walkability and an evidence-based approach that operates at the right scales and creates a framework that aids complex, healthy, self-organising urban growth. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/sustainable-urban-form-the-modernstructure-of-walkable-cities

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[v] Place, community and outcomes Communities, asset management and service delivery How people use places matters, and it is important that we start to observe this and design with these patterns more carefully. The integration of community planning, spatial planning and service delivery is crucial to sustainable places. This article gives an overview of some issues and initiatives developed to tackle these issues http://www.ads.org.uk/healthierplaces/features/integrated-assets Sustainable communities in Scotland: scenario thinking Increasingly, participation is a key element of the making of place and the servicing of place. Taking the issue of participation as a basis for imagining the possible future for Scottish communities, these scenarios set out issues and challenges that can inform future policy thinking http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/what-does-the-future-hold-for-scotlandscommunities Participation in Placemaking This paper produced by Nick Wright Planning and A+DS calls for better awareness of both participation in the making of places and better understanding of the necessary ingredients to ensure participation in the places already made http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/pir/ learningnetworks/mixedcommunities/publications/placemaking Participation and placemaking Increasingly, participation is a key element of the making of place and the servicing of place. Taking the issue of participation as a basis for imagining the possible future for Scottish communities, these scenarios set out issues and challenges that can inform future policy thinking http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/what-does-the-future-hold-for-scotlandscommunities Mixed use The vitality of neighbourhoods and streets is influenced significantly by the way in which uses are structured. These structures inform patterns of movement, patterns of economy and patterns of public life. This learning point draws out lessons for mixed use based on policy and practitioner experiences in Scotland. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/features/publication-of-mixed-use-learning-point

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Learning Towns The assets and resources of our towns and neighbourhoods are learning opportunities. If we were to see every action in our settlements as a means of delivering a better learning experience to our citizens, we might rethink how we manage assets, how we manage resources, how we collaborate and deliver capital and revenue projects, how we use investments in a smarter way. Learning towns is an initiative which explores these themes as a driver for better places using what we have already got. www.learningtowns.org Civic economy The economy of our 21st century places is changing. A key challenge is to put in place the conditions to support enterprise, and for these conditions to be scaled to support other enterprises. Place matters because the conditions that support local enterprise depend on local conditions. This research, undertaken by Nesta, looks at examples of where these conditions have been put in place and sets out some challenges for local economic development for contemporary places. http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/compendium-for-the-civic-economy-published [vi] Skills and capacity building Capacitycheck This quick and easy to use guide provides a framework to check what design and placemaking skills you have, what skills you may need and how you might address these issues in practical ways http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/building-design-capacity Design Skills resources The Design Skills Symposium 2010 was a national initiative delivered by A+DS in collaboration with Improvement Services, Scottish Government and the Key Agencies to build greater capacity in placemaking skills. The event addressed a range of issues from designing for outcomes, to sustainability, streets and implementation. Video resources, including a keynote from Klas Tham, the designer of Bo01 in Malmo are available for download here http://www.ads.org.uk/urbanism/news/skills-symposium-presentations

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