The document discusses the concept of placemaking and what makes a sustainable community. It provides definitions of placemaking and sustainability from various sources. It also lists eight questions to consider about a place, such as who makes decisions, how well connected and designed it is, whether there are good local services and a thriving economy, and if there is a mix of social and cultural activities. Examples are given of different places that demonstrate positive aspects of these questions.

1. I  … where?

2. What is placemaking?

3. ‘ Our job is to cherish, protect, enhance, replace and refresh in a way that makes a positive contribution to our communities and the wider district.’ City of Bradford MDC

4. Who are the placemakers?

5. You are

6. Sustainability: ‘Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ Bruntland Commission 1987

7. 'Sustainable communities meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, their children and other users, contribute to a high quality of life and provide opportunity and choice. They achieve this in ways that make effective use of natural resources, enhance the environment, promote social cohesion and inclusion and strengthen economic prosperity.’ Egan Review, 2004

8. Eight questions to ask about a place

9. Who makes decisions?

10. Attwood Green, Birmingham: Residents on community association board, neighbourhood forum - local people take decisions about their homes

11. Is it well connected?

12. Curitiba, Brazil: A city transformed by giving priority to public transport

13. Are there good local services?

14. Kaleidoscope, Lewisham: Health, education and social care for children – all in one place

15. Is there respect and care for the environment?

16. Stamford Brook, Cheshire: High quality homes on a National Trust estate

17. Does everyone get a fair deal?

18. Mixenden, Halifax: Community Link brings together asylum seekers, migrant workers and local residents to foster social links and community spirit

19. Is there a thriving local economy?

20. Hebden Bridge, Calderdale: A ‘home town’ with a high proportion of independent shops

21. Are the homes and built environment well designed?

22. Norfolk Park, Sheffield Distinctively designed as well as forward-thinking

23. Is there a good mix of social and cultural activity?

24. Art for all, Oldham Number of adults involved in visual and performing arts increased by 14,000 in three years

25. Placemaking … … could be a building … a street corner … a market … an estate … a village … Bradford … Yorkshire … the UK S M L XL XXL

26. ‘ Practice... is about making the ordinary special, and the special more widely accessible.’ Nabeel Hamdi

28. Picture credits Attwood Green: Optima Curitiba: Zhu Kaleidoscope: Steve Cadman Stamford Brook: Ian Roberts Mixenden: Tim Green Hebden Bridge: Robert Wade

29. More from me at: New Start magazine : www.newstartmag.co.uk Living with Rats : http:livingwithrats.blogspot.com Twitter : www.twitter.com/juliandobson Slideshare : www.slideshare.net/juliandobson