Towards a Sustainable and Just City Region? Civil Society and the rise of community- based approaches to planning and development in London TU Berlin 29 November 2013 Professor Nick Bailey

Civil Society Multiple meanings Different formations – national charities, area- based, issue-based ‘third sector’ organisations Uneven geographical distribution Simple legal and organisational structures Long history of charitable activities in UK Response to shrinking of the state and public investment in communities and places No coherent strategy – e.g. Big Society, Localism, forums

Defining social and community enterprise

The complexities of planning in London educating for

Development Trusts are….. Engaged in economic, social and environmental regeneration of a defined are or community of interest; Independent, not-for-profit, aiming for sustainability; Community based, owned and managed; Actively involved in partnerships with stakeholders; (usually) a registered company limited by guarantee; (usually) a registered charity.

Coin Street Community Builders

Westway Development Trust

Comparing two trusts in London Coin StreetWestway Land ownershipFreeholdLong lease from council and DoT Year founded Legal statusCompany limited by guarantee charity Company limited by guarantee Charity Assets£26m in 2007£28.5m in 2012 Area5.3 ha9 ha Reason for expansionSale at low valuation by GLCLease at low valuation Organisation12 trustees14 trustees + chair Main activitiesHousing (220 affordable) Commercial/retail Open space 80% community facilities 15% commercial 5% vacant

Coin Street Community Builders Assets of £26m in 2007; 5.3 hectare site bought in 1984; 220 homes built; Families & children’s centre; Neighbourhood centre with nursery, meeting rooms, office space for charities; Public open space; Shops and offices; Work and arts spaces; Proposed swimming pool

Iroko Housing Co-operative built 59 homes to rent in 2001

Iroko is one of 4 housing co-ops in the Coin Street area

Proposed Doon Street development on the South Bank, London

Sources of Finance Section 106 and asset transfer (land and buildings); Loans from banks; Sales and services provided; Big Lottery, Heritage Lottery Fund; EU funding (in certain areas); Various funds from central & local government; LAs can sell land/buildings below market value if worth less than £2m.

Community Development Trusts There are 466 development trusts across the UK Development trusts work in communities that make up a quarter of the UK population They have a combined income of £297m, of which £177m is earned income £643m of assets are in community ownership 5040 staff and 23,000 volunteers work with development trusts Development trusts provide support to almost 9,000 community groups and over 8,000 small businesses Development trusts engage in a wide range of community focussed activities and services.

Source: DTA. Development trusts in 2009

Assets owned by Locality members in England Source: Locality membership survey 2012 Total assets: £643m

Income to Locality members in England Source: Locality membership survey 2012 Total income: £297m

Assets of Community Value Under Localism Act 2011 groups can apply to local council to register an Asset of Community Value; When asset is for sale, group has 6 months to raise the market value before it can be sold on open market; Often applied to pubs but also redundant schools, libraries etc. Similar powers operating in Scotland

First Asset of Community Value in London? The Ivy House, Nunhead, bought by Ivy House Community Pub Ltd in March 2013 after declared an asset of community value by Southwark Council and residents raising £810,000

Conclusions Small scale, uneven distribution Affected by recession and increasing property values Operate at high risk end of market Driven by a commercial imperative to make a surplus Depend on volunteers for management and delivery Important community development role Depend on buying in expertise (valuation, architects etc) Asset transfer very slow – owners want to maximise income Voluntaristic principle – promoting ‘co-production’

The Co-Production Model Governance Community engagement Service delivery

Sources Hart, L. To have and to hold: The DTA guide to asset development for community and social enterprise. DTA, Bailey, N. The role, organisation and contribution of community enterprise to urban regeneration in the UK. Progress in Planning, 77(1),

Questions?