Urban extensions, planning and participation: Lessons from Derwenthorpe and other new communities

It combines the first-hand learning of practitioners – including the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust at Derwenthorpe in York – with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy framework, and draws conclusions that are relevant not just to high-profile “eco-towns” but to all new communities in Britain.

The report:

• emphasises the importance of political leadership in strategic planning to provide a context for effective site development;
• stresses the need for broad-based and more efficient participation earlier in the planning process, and the value of ‘participatory master planning’ for larger development sites;
• highlights the benefits of better integration between regional, local and site planning, and between strategic planning, development control and master planning.

You can read more about the development of Derwenthorpe in 'Masterplanning a new community'.