1. Managing land for the common good
– a U.K. perspective
Gestione sostenibile dei beni comuni e rigenerazione
territoriale - esperienze nel Regno Unito
Mark Walton
November / Novembre 2014
2. Agenda
• UK context
• Shared Assets – about our approach
– Social enterprise management
– Commons governance
– Creative engagement
• Examples & case studies
– Woodland / Farming / Public open space
• Business models
– Capital / Revenue
4. Shared Assets
We support community management of woodlands,
waterways, green spaces and coastal areas.
We help landowners and community enterprises work together to
transform under managed land into productive community spaces.
5. UK context: political & financial
• Smaller government
• Austerity
• Selling of public assets
• Localism
• Community rights
– Community Right to Bid
– Community Right to Challenge
– Neighbourhood Planning
6. UK context: demand
• Increasing demand for land
• Groups and use of land often informal
• A range:
– Traditional “friends of groups”
– Enterprising, values-driven groups
– People wanting to meet their own needs
– Unorthodox groups
• Alternative currencies
• Cooperative and ‘commons’ approaches
10. Commons based governance
Commons = resource + community + social rules
• Clearly defined boundaries
• Rules adapted to local conditions
• Those using the resource participate in decision-making
• Effective, accountable
• Sanctions for those who violate community rules
• Cheap and easy to access conflict resolution
13. Opportunities
Under managed liabilities Productive assets
Employment
Training
Improved environment
Renewable resources
Community engagement
Social connections
14. Challenges
Contested spaces
Privatisation of public assets
Commercialisation of nature
Creating successful business models
15. Contact
Mark Walton
mark@sharedassets.org.uk
@shared_assets
www.sharedassets.org.uk
Editor's Notes
traditional “friends of groups” > maybe responding to a threat or an opportunity, to budget cuts. Often being put in a difficult position. People who are engaged in a park, or a woodland because it is local to them and they value the amenity. Something they do in their spare time. Often older
More ideological groups > eg transition groups. Motivated by wider concerns – engaging in land as a practical solution to more global issues rather than (or as well as) a particular attachment to a particular site. Still often a spare time pursuit, but maybe with an aim to create employment for others if not themselves
people wanting to meet their own needs > aiming to create a livelihood (or part of one) for themselves – often co-ops. Coppicing or food growing co-ops, groups of people creating their own housing situations: boaters, housing coops, co housing etc
Unorthodox groups > those motivated by the bigger picture and willing to take things into their own hands; Some egs include squatters with a wider social purpose – people influenced by occupy; often more comfortable with some legal grey areas, and physically “taking action” themeslves.
