This topic addresses the need for
community engagement within the planning process, and particularly what levels
of community involvement are required to achieve a feasible outcome. Community
involvement better reflects citizen values, attributes and needs within urban
design, making a better living environment for the people of today and the
future. Below I also reflect on Jewson and MacGregor’s Contested Cities: Social
Process and Spatial Form, which criticises previous planning practices and
theories, as well as suggests new methods of social and spatial processes.
A Ladder of Citizen Participation – Sherry R. Ainstein
Research conducted by Ainstein recognises
the levels of engagement between communities and urban planners. The introductory
question which is later addressed is; ‘What
is citizen participation and what are its relationships to the social
imperatives of our time?’ Community participation is essential in regards
to planning because outcomes impact whole community’s daily lives. It is
important that community members are involved with the decisions of their
future. The ladder of participation and engagement proposed by Ainstein consists
of 8 levels, which are divided into 3 subheadings. The lowest 2 steps are
classified as non-participation. These steps include [1] Manipulation and [2]
Therapy, which include persuading and educating people of already made plans.
The second section of levels includes; [3] Informing, [4] Consultation and [5]
Placation. These steps can be deemed as tokenism, where opinions are heard but
ignored, and there is no follow-through. The final stage identifies the various
stages of civilian power. The sixth ladder step ([6] Partnership) is a planning
ideal, where communities and planners are working side by side in the
development and decision making process. The last two steps; [7] Delegated
Power and [8] Citizen Control are the highest levels of power, where
communities possess the right to decide and the right to criticize. These last,
higher stages of the Citizen Participation Ladder may ultimately be detrimental
to urban systems and design in the future. Planners possess the history and
theory of what practices are best for various situations, therefore
professional input should be considered. The sixth step [of partnership] is the
best level of attaining a sustainable, timeless urban system that will reflect
the communities values, attributes and needs as well as reflecting planning
principles and practice.
Contested Cities: Social Process and Spatial Form – Nick Jewson and
Susanne MacGregor
Jewsen and MacGregor developed an
academic novel based on their research on historic planning theory and
practices. Their general argument is for timeless, sustainable planning
processes and a united approach to community engagement. This is due to
evidence of people feeling alienated within cities by localisation and sectioning
of communities, as suggested by Lewis Mumford. Rather than sectioning communities
by income, race and political view, Jewson and MacGregor suggest developing
communities around common values, for example environmental conservation,
social justice etc. This would likely better the genuineness of communities as
a whole.
The paper then begins addressing
the spatial formation of cities and their need for urban processes that can be
sustained over time. The writers argue against past implemented processes,
which have negatively impacted urban life now because of their lack of
consideration for the future. Urban processes need to be developed in a way so
they are flexible and adjustable to the changing values and needs of society.
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