FOLLOWING on from Paul Andrews’ letter in the Gazette & Herald on August 13, can design create positive communities, where people can live, work and play?

Earlier this year a small project in Cornwall looked at an existing village settlement. What began as a small project about the feasibility of a new community building on a deprived estate, quickly transformed into an initiative that could reduce many of the negative social and economic impacts associated with deprivation in the UK. Pengegon is officially Cornwall’s most deprived neighbourhood.

It is in the UK’s bottom two per cent for overall deprivation, income deprivation (bottom one per cent), employment deprivation (bottom four per cent), income deprivation affecting children (bottom two per cent), education skills and training affecting children/young people (bottom three per cent). The percentage of children in poverty (under 16) is 50.8 per cent – which is about 135 children.

The study concluded that most of what motivates residents is based around their community.

It is this sense of community, which should be the backbone for building new settlements and enhancing existing places. A thorough understanding of people’s needs, coupled with professional help on the design and format of settlements, should be an essential part of the planning process.

My own profession, the RIBA, published a paper some time ago, called Sustainable Communities, highlighting points, which together, would form healthy communities for the future: a flourishing local economy to provide jobs and wealth; strong leadership to respond positively to change; effective engagement and participation by local people, groups and businesses, especially in the planning, design and long term stewardship of their community, and an active voluntary and community sector; a safe and healthy local environment with well-designed public and greenspace; sufficient size, scale and density, and the right layout to support basic amenities in the neighbourhood and minimise use of resources (including land); good public transport and other transport infrastructure both within the community and linking it to urban, rural and regional centres; buildings-both individually and collectively-that can meet different needs overtime, and that minimise the use of resources; a well-integrated mix of decent homes of different types and tenures to support a range of household sizes, ages and incomes; good quality local public services, including education and training opportunities, healthcare and community facilities, especially for leisure; a diverse, vibrant and creative local culture, encouraging pride in the community and cohesion within it; a “sense of place” and the right links with the wider regional, national and international community.

These principles should be fiercely protected in the policies shaping our future communities. The principles also suggest that we should take personal responsibility in how we can help foster strong communities. I know myself, that it is too easy to say that I am too busy, but perhaps a few minutes of reflection and some positive action within local community might pay long term dividends for all. Don’t let your community die, for lack of passion.

Ric Blenkharn, Malton