Integreat Plus is helping Hull residents engage with the decision making process that will shape their local area over the coming years.
On the 6th December a joint Design Review panel travelled to Hull to in order to review the proposals for the Kingswood Area Action Plan (AAP). The day provided the opportunity for Design Review panel members from across the country to meet with Hull City Council in order to provide design advice that will help shape the development of the Kingswood area over the next 15 years.
The Review is part of an extensive public consultation process being carried out by HCC that aims to identify the specific development needs of the Kingswood area of Hull. Kingswood is the main area of residential growth in Hull and so the AAP process not only sets out the amount and location of new development, but also seeks to ensure that Kingswood functions well as a place and meets the needs of the ever growing local community.
The Design Review involvement with the AAP is a collaboration between Integreat Plus, ARC and the Design Council CABE. Hull City Council have previously utilised all three Design Review Services on a number of occasions in an effort to raise the design quality of developments within the Hull area.
The Design Review involvement with the Kingswood AAP has been divided into two parts. The first part featured the Design Review Panel and staff members being taken on a tour of Kingswood, followed by a Review session in which members of the Local Authority discussed proposals with the Panel. The Review focused on issues ranging from the layout design, green spaces, social housing, flooding, services and facilities, connectivity with the wider area, a new primary school and an integrated local centre for shops and community activities.
The second part of the Review is taking place in the New Year and will consist of a live Review in front of an audience of local residents. This not only allows the community to see for themselves how their views have been incorporated in to the proposals, but also demonstrates the many benefits the Design Review Panel can give to communities by advising them on how to effectively engage with the development process.
By involving community groups with the Design Review process, Integreat Plus sets out to help residents shape the places they live in for the better by equipping them with the necessary skills to actively engage with Local Authorities and developers.
Integreat Plus is continuing its support to communities in January 2012 by running a workshop on Neighbourhood Planning and Design Review for Sheffield based community neighbourhood organisations who are interested in shaping their places. Please follow the link for more details or contact the Design Review team
Richard Sewell
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