Planning for Sustainable communities Reaching consensus in a West of Ireland town

Tipperary Institute Tipperary Institute (TI) was established in 1999 as Ireland’s only institute exclusively devoted to rural development Academic Courses Outreach work Research work for clients in the Community, Business and State sectors

Tipperary Institute (TI) was established in 1999 as Ireland’s only institute exclusively devoted to rural development

Academic Courses

Outreach work

Research work for clients in the Community, Business and State sectors

Rural Planning-Why? Growth producing uneven outcomes for certain areas/groups Certain Villages/DED’s growing/others contracting Lack of services in many rural areas Uneven provision Many requests for assistance

Growth producing uneven outcomes for certain areas/groups

Certain Villages/DED’s growing/others contracting

Lack of services in many rural areas

Uneven provision

Many requests for assistance

Rural Planning-Why? Crisis in the Planning system? Breakdown in trust/relationships? Clash of visions: Planners/State policy-Concentration of population Rural/farming lobby-Opposed to concentration?

Crisis in the Planning system?

Breakdown in trust/relationships?

Clash of visions:

Planners/State policy-Concentration of population

Rural/farming lobby-Opposed to concentration?

Rural Planning-Why? ?What are the rural areas for? ?Who decides? ? How are these decisions/non-decisions made?

?What are the rural areas for?

?Who decides?

? How are these decisions/non-decisions made?

Rural Planning-Why? Lack of shared Vision The planning process lacks mechanisms for addressing this issue Communities asked to participate in consultative processes when decisions/visions are already set

Lack of shared Vision

The planning process lacks mechanisms for addressing this issue

Communities asked to participate in consultative processes when decisions/visions are already set

What is IAP IAP: a partnership approach to local development Developing shared vision Varying interests Common cause An action plan to be implemented 7 areas to date since 2001

IAP: a partnership approach to local development

Developing shared vision

Varying interests

Common cause

An action plan to be implemented

7 areas to date since 2001

What is IAP? IAP as an empowering, practical and participatory process to collect, analyse and compile information while developing the skills and structures needed to prepare and implement an inclusive and multifaceted plan for a defined geographical area.

IAP as an empowering, practical and participatory process to collect, analyse and compile information while developing the skills and structures needed to prepare and implement an inclusive and multifaceted plan for a defined geographical area.

Why IAP? Kinvara: a town under pressure Galway Co. Council: an institution in flux The planning system in crisis Partnership framework Legislative framework

Kinvara: a town under pressure

Galway Co. Council: an institution in flux

The planning system in crisis

Partnership framework

Legislative framework

Objectives of the project: Facilitate preparation of a town plan using participation as a key Identify key development priorities Evaluate and document the process Feedback to Co. Council Publish a guide for use elsewhere

Facilitate preparation of a town plan using participation as a key

Identify key development priorities

Evaluate and document the process

Feedback to Co. Council

Publish a guide for use elsewhere

Steps in the process 1. Contracting Phase 2. Data Collection 3. Establish steering group 4. Capacity building 5.Visions/Objectives 6. Task Groups 7. Draft 8. Validation 9. Approval 10. Implementation

1. Contracting Phase

2. Data Collection

3. Establish steering group

4. Capacity building

5.Visions/Objectives

6. Task Groups

7. Draft

8. Validation

9. Approval

10. Implementation

5. Establishing Visions and Objectives Move away from details that cause division Look into the future-an ideal future Shared understanding and context Vision:What kind of Place? Retain seaside character Broad range of services accessible without a car

Move away from details that cause division

Look into the future-an ideal future

Shared understanding and context

Vision:What kind of Place?

Retain seaside character

Broad range of services accessible without a car

Vision:Retain seaside character: Objectives Manage the natural landscape Stone walls to be retained The views across the bay to be maintained Green areas maintained and developed Restrict height of new buildings Landscape residential areas Protect and enhance biodiversity

Vision:Retain seaside character:

Objectives

Manage the natural landscape

Stone walls to be retained

The views across the bay to be maintained

Green areas maintained and developed

Restrict height of new buildings

Landscape residential areas

Protect and enhance biodiversity

10. Implementation Requires commitment by community Support from the agencies and politicians Preparation and approval of local area plan problematic Ongoing partnership Structures are important Resources

Requires commitment by community

Support from the agencies and politicians

Preparation and approval of local area plan problematic

Ongoing partnership

Structures are important

Resources

What needs to change Resources Facilitation Communication Power Structures Accepted practice

Resources

Facilitation

Communication

Power

Structures

Accepted practice

Resources Significant investment needed Time Officials not able to invest that time Targeted measures for the marginalised Resources to staff to enable participation

Significant investment needed

Time

Officials not able to invest that time

Targeted measures for the marginalised

Resources to staff to enable participation

Facilitation Communication Capacity-building Mediation Power-broker Establishing structures

Communication

Capacity-building

Mediation

Power-broker

Establishing structures

Communication Clarity Collaborative Dialogue Confrontation to trust Communication modes in the community

Clarity

Collaborative Dialogue

Confrontation to trust

Communication modes in the community

Power Redistribution of power Wrestling power from the powerful! Community resourced with independent advice Hat on head, not in hand

Redistribution of power

Wrestling power from the powerful!

Community resourced with independent advice

Hat on head, not in hand

Structures Traditional poor relationships with communities Lack of structures From ad-hoc consultation to power-sharing A people-centred structure and vocabulary New local Government structures offer hope

Traditional poor relationships with communities

Lack of structures

From ad-hoc consultation to power-sharing

A people-centred structure and vocabulary

New local Government structures offer hope

.....summary A new system of planning in each County Communities actively involved in planning Facilitated by an ‘honest broker’ With access to independent expertise Supported by Planners Backed by Politicians Funded by the State/other interests Community structures recognised

A new system of planning in each County

Communities actively involved in planning

Facilitated by an ‘honest broker’

With access to independent expertise

Supported by Planners

Backed by Politicians

Funded by the State/other interests

Community structures recognised

A Community of practice Carnegie and Offaly Ballyhoura IRL New Rural Development companies A Network of collaborative decision-makers?

Carnegie and Offaly

Ballyhoura

IRL

New Rural Development companies

A Network of collaborative decision-makers?

Conference and Book Launch Integrated Area Planning: A collaborative Approach to decision-making A TI Publication

Integrated Area Planning:

A collaborative Approach to decision-making

A TI Publication