New Urbanisms, New Citizens: Children and Young People’s Everyday Life and Participation in Sustainable Communities

The Research team Prof. Pia Christensen, University of Warwick Dr Peter Kraftl, University of Leicester Dr John Horton, The University of Northampton Dr Sophie Hadfield-Hill, The University of Northampton Dr Stella Hart, University of Warwick Sarah Smith, University of Leicester

Presentation Aims of the Study Policy context and key themes Methodology and ethics

Aims of the Study To provide theoretically informed and empirically rich understanding and analysis of children’s lived experiences in new sustainable urban environments. To investigate children and young people’s use of public and private space through the study of their mobility patterns. To explore children’s sense of belonging to their community and the implications of this for their participation and citizenship. To inform the planning and design of sustainable communities for all with children and young people’s needs, participation and citizenship in mind. To develop systematic mixed methods designs for the study of children, sustainability and mobility including ethical standards for the use of mobile and GPS technologies in participatory work with children.

Policy/historical context Every Child Matters agenda (2004) wide-ranging commitment to fostering younger people’s participation in decision-making UK Government’s Sustainable Communities Plan (2003) major investment in urban development four designated ‘Growth Areas’: ‘Ashford’, ‘London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough’, ‘Milton Keynes/South Midlands’ and ‘Thames Gateway’

Policy/historical context Characteristics of projected urban development: large scale, rapid growth coordinated and driven by local multi-agency partnerships commitment to community and environmental sustainability innovative forms of urban growth/design

Milton Keynes / South Midlands (MKSM) 10,000 dwellings built p.a. 2005- 2007 Original projections for 300,000- 500,000 new dwellings by 2031 6 Local Growth Policy Areas Map from: www.mksm.org.uk

Milton Keynes / South Midlands (MKSM) Questions emerging from recent research in MKSM: impacts of ‘credit crunch’ community cohesion environmentally sustainable lifestyles young people’s participation young people’s mobility and identity Map from: www.mksm.org.uk

Children and young people aged 11 – 16 years old, their families, other citizens and traders A novel combination of ethnographic research and portable GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technologies Develop ethical research practice

PROJECT WEBSITE www.go.warwick.ac.uk/nunc