Planning for Real is a method of public participation pioneered in this country by Dr Tony Gibson, formerly of the Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation (email: info@nif.co.uk). It was first used experimentally in the east end of Glasgow in Dalmamock (1977) but has been successfully applied all over the world since that time.
The technique makes use of visual materials to involve all sections of the community. With the use of a large scale model of an area, Planning for Real enables effective community involvement in local plan consultation by:-
- allowing people to have their say without needing to speak to an audience;
- encouraging informal discussion of ideas;
- removing the confrontation which often exists at a conventional public meeting;
- making the consultation process more fun and rewarding for everyone involved; and
- stimulating informal contacts between the community and officials throughout the Local Plan process.
Planning for Real uses all forms of consultation, including leafleting, public meetings, informal groups, displays, and media publicity. All of it is designed to involve people in planning their community. Although a large crowd creates a better atmosphere, success is judged by the quality of the ideas generated, rather than the numbers attending.
Application
Participants are asked to give their ideas by placing cards on the map model. Various prepared cards are available showing a particular kind of development such as housing or the safeguarding / improvement of an existing feature. However, people can use blank cards to write down their own suggestions. There are no rules in Planning for Real - people are welcome to place as many cards as they like, provided that:-
- they place one card only on each of the sites chosen. It is a democratic process with one person one vote, and
- they do not remove or alter anyone else's cards already on the model.
Council officials from various Services, together with officials from other public bodies, are always on hand to offer advice. Most of the sessions last around one hour. The results are recorded at the end and a short report on the proceedings is circulated locally within a couple of weeks.
© Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation