Design with the community

Has the public realm been co-designed with local people to provide places and activities that will support an active and healthy local community?

The long term vitality of the public realm requires engaging the local community to achieve a high level of community buy-in. To engage the local community, the design process of the public realm should actively seek out community input from the beginning and work to integrate community desires into the final design solution. This should include creating opportunities for the local community to participate in and take ownership of their public realm. This may mean the introduction of pockets of planting that is cared for by the residents - such as allotments - or providing the facilities and support necessary to hold community events.

Recommendations:

1. Co-design with the local community

The design of key public realm projects should be based on a co-design process to allow the local community and key stakeholders to go beyond consulting (i.e commenting on designs), and to allow them to actively participate in the design process. Co-design events use a range of creative engagement techniques to allow the community to co-develop the brief, test options, and develop design proposals.

2. Include spaces for communal activities

The public realm should be designed to allow residents to come together and engage collectively within their local environment. Important opportunities identified within the public realm strategy include the provision of growing spaces, planting that is cared for by local residents, interactive public art installations, play on the way, and the organisation of community events.

3. Provide facilities for community events and celebrations

To encourage public gathering, the public squares and neighbourhood parks should be equipped with the facilities to host community events. Guidance for the facilities to be provided has been outlined within the design guidance section for the public square and the neighbourhood park typologies.

4. Consider local stewardship and activation of the public spaces

The design process for key public realm projects should extend beyond the delivery of the space, and explore the stewardship and activation of spaces. The community co-design workshops should start to explore events programmes, partnerships and collaborations that empower the local residents to create new initiatives and participate in helping to activate the public realm. Activities and events may range from street parties to neighbourhood festivities in the public square, and city wide festivals. Any programme of events should be curated by local community organisations and evolved to fit the desires and needs of the local residents.

5. Express & make visible the cultural heritage and current cultures of the local community

The design of the public realm should express the local culture. Forms of expression may include the display of art work, the integration of community events boards, or provide areas for markets and music.