1. DEVELOPING
IN TRUST
An Introduction
Collectively Wick – Wick Curiosity Shop
3 March 2011
March 2011

2. Introduction
Bonnie Wong – Director of consultancy practice, Composition Advisory Limited.
● Provides advice to businesses and entrepreneurs on viable business models
and financial strategy.
● Over 13 years of experience working in the property and finance sectors.
● We work collaboratively and co-operatively to find solutions.
DEVELOPING IN TRUST: We have been exploring the idea of setting up a
development trust in East London and ways of developing buildings by, with,
and for the community.
March 2011

3. The Background We are interested in buildings being
developed for the purposes local
residents want and need.
We explore ways that the
community can be part of the
planning, design, and delivery
stages.
We want to see more co-operation
and collaboration between private
developers, the people using the
spaces, and the people using the
products and services being made
in those buildings.
We believe in good stewardship of
buildings by the community.
March 2011

4. Some of the People We Work With
Development trusts are community enterprises working to
create wealth in communities and keep it there. The
Development Trusts Association is the leading network
of community enterprise practitioners dedicated to helping
people set up development trusts and helping existing
trusts learn from each other and work effectively.
Space Makers Agency is about rethinking the spaces in
which people spend their time. They work with all kinds of
people and organisations to create sociable spaces and
sustainable local economies. They research the changing
ways in which people are using space and develop new
ways of thinking about the spaces in which we live, work
and play.
Resonance matches values-led investment with growing
social enterprises. Working in the area of social finance
and impact investment, Resonance connects investors
looking for more than just a financial return with social
enterprises that have a clear potential for growth and high
social impact.
March 2011

5. What We've Learned From Working With Them
There are a number of established and emerging
organisations on the same or similar path –
Development Trusts, settlements, social action
centres, Space and Acme Studios, for example.
There are a number of projects emerging from
grassroots such as pop-ups and meanwhile uses of
space.
Local authorities are starting to wake up to this
movement. Private developers continue to be
focused on financial profits, although some are
awakening to community and creative-led
engagement and development.
Trying to figure out what a building or a space should
be used for is still a challenge. No one wants to take
the risk on an unproven idea or project and definitely
no investor wants to take that risk.
March 2011

6. An Alternative Approach
However, alternatives to the “build it, they will come”, “high street clone”
approach to property development are emerging.
These alternatives follow principles of user-led and participatory design,
community engagement, co-operation, and systems thinking.
We want to create more connections amongst local residents, businesses,
and community organisations *and* developers, investors, and other people
with skills and resources that complement community asset projects.
March 2011

7. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

8. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

9. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

10. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

11. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

12. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

13. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of 1-6 activities {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

14. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of activities in stages 1 to 6 {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

15. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of activities in stages 1 to 6 {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

16. Developing in Trust – a Plan
We have seen stages emerge from revitalisation projects. Some overlap and happen in
parallel. In the early part of projects, the steps can be iterative and repeat.
1. Empty space: landowners should donate or *invest* access to space. They will likely
consider the opportunity cost of someone using the space in the meanwhile or
perhaps see it as savings on marketing and leasing costs.
2. Feasibility testing: Initial stage of research into likelihood the space could be used for
something. Ideas are proposed {Grants or public funding}
3. Community engagement: Really getting to know the local community, being a part of
it, making the space for people to participate and contribute {Supported by grants,
public funding, or sponsorship}
4. Create demand for the space and the activities {Grants, public funding, sponsorship}
5. Local economic activity & opportunity: A local economy starts to develop, income
starts being generated. This is a nice time to ensure that facilitators and catalysts are
rewarded for their investment of time {Income generation}
6. Local economic growth moving towards sustainability {Sustained income, build equity
to invest in further development or to sustain changes}
7. New development/ expansion of activities in stages 1 to 6 {Investment}
8. Continued economic activity + new income streams {Income generation, return on
investment}
March 2011

17. What's Next?
DEVELOPING IN TRUST starts with gathering a community, ideas, and
energy. Think about what services people want and are willing to pay for – then
go and ask them!
Include investors and people will access to resources early in the conversation,
but be creative about how to fund stages 1 to 6. Investors do not get interested
until after demand is evident.
March 2011

18. What's Next?
To find out more and to connect with other organisations aiming to achieve the
same goals:
Please contact Bonnie Wong at Composition Advisory Limited on 07939 201855
or bonnie@compositionadvisory.com.
Thank you for your time and attention.
March 2011