Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Community Right to Build
Community Right to Build
The Community Right to Build is a set of proposals that would give local communities the power to decide what is built in their area. The new powers would mean that where developments for new houses, community facilities or shops have the agreement of the local area through a 'community referendum', and meet a minimum criterion, communities will not need to go through the normal planning application process.This will give communities the freedom to decide how to meet the local priorities in their area, and allow new homes, shops, businesses or facilities to be built where they want them. Communities would be able to decide the type of developments and housing they want to see, and the benefits would be retained for the community - managed by a corporate body formed by members of the local community.
Whilst it will be for communities to identify suitable land, sources of finance and secure support for their proposals, there will be help and guidance in available, and advice from people who already have experience of taking forward community-led schemes.
Q and A on Community Right to Build
Q: What is Community Right to Build?A: We see Community Right to Build as a means by which like-minded people from the local area come together with a shared vision of what they want to achieve in their community and how they can go about it. New powers for these communities will mean that community organisations would be able to take forward new local developments without the need to go through the normal planning application process, as long as the proposals meet certain criteria and there is community backing in a local referendum.
Q: Who will be able to use the new powers?
A: Community Right to Build would be able to be used throughout England - in both rural and urban areas. We also envisage that communities would be free to use property developers, should they wish to do so or enter into partnerships such as with a housing association to manage their homes. See the links below for examples of areas that have taken forward community-led schemes.
Q: What developments could the powers be used for?
A: A wide range of plans could be approved where a community agrees. For example additional housing to meet the demand of future generations, new shops where communities want to offer low rent deals to local convenience stores or farm shops, or a new community hall or sports facilities.
Q: When will they come into force?
A: The new powers are one of a number of measures included in the Localism Bill which is currently before Parliament. So whilst the exact date that the powers can start being used from depends on the Parliamentary process, communities should start thinking about what the new powers could mean for their area and how they would use them, so that they are ready to go if the new rights become law.
Q: What do I need to do to plan for the powers?
A: If you're interested in a community-led development you should talk to your neighbours to get an idea about what sort of development the whole community would want to see. You may also want to talk to your local council, housing association or other community groups. And you might find it useful to get advice from people who already have experience of taking forward community-led schemes.
For more information visit:
- Community Land Trusts Network: http://www.communitylandtrusts.org.uk/ (external link)
- Locality: http://locality.org.uk/ (external link)
- UK Cohousing Network: http://www.cohousing.org.uk/ (external link)
- Action with Communities in Rural England: www.acre.org.uk/our-work/community-led-planning (external link)
- Confederation of Co-operative Housing: http://www.cch.coop/ (external link)
Occupy London holds ‘Big Green Day’ event on Sunday 18 December in its St Paul’s camp: Occupying for People and Planet
Occupy London holds ‘Big Green Day’ event on Sunday 18 December in its St Paul
On Sunday 18 December, Occupy London – part of a global movement for social, economic and environmental justice – will hold an event on environment and the economy. The event will take place in the camp at St Paul
The event focuses on the exploitative economic system that pollutes our land, sea and air, causes unprecedented loss of natural species and irreversible climate change. While the most disadvantaged are already suffering the consequences of this reality, the 1% continues to profit and governments fail to act because of powerful vested interests and short-sighted opportunism.
‘Behind the economic crisis lies a deeper and in the long term more dangerous environmental crisis, and behind both is also a crisis of democracy, transparency and accountability’ says an organiser of the Big Green Day. ‘They are all caused by an endless quest for more profit, growth, and consumption.’ As the movement’s initial statement recognises, this is as much an environmental problem as it is a social and economic one.
The Big Green Day comes just eight days after the conclusion of the annual Climate Change conference, in which civil society and some diplomats ‘occupied’ the negotiations to protest against the woeful lack of progress. [2] Many blame this failure on the narrow self-interest and the influence of powerful industry groups on governments - the very problems the Occupy movement is fighting against. ‘We are destroying the natural capital which our collective prosperity is based on, while the short-term benefits are siphoned off by the global 1%’ echoes another Occupy London supporter. ‘If we don’t act now, a few generations down the line this will be remembered as an era in which greed and corruption prevailed over science, reason and common compassion.’
But change is possible. Some of the solutions at hand will be debated at Sunday’s event. Questions will be raised about a system that gives rights to corporations and not to nature. Experts will talking about a vision for a Green New Deal in which capital is used for the public good: to secure our energy sources, to provide jobs and to create a more sustainable economy. ‘Fortunately we already have the knowledge and technology to reduce our environmental impact while maintaining our well-being’ concludes another organiser. ‘Every challenge is also an opportunity, every crisis can be the beginning of positive change. We need to question the very fundamentals of our economic model, look at sustainable activities and then act decisively.’
We invite individuals, and members of organizations and government, to join us to help co-create a positive, sustainable economic system that benefits present and future generations. Occupy is where we work together collectively to find real solutions.
We are Occupying for People and Planet – come and join us this Sunday at St Paul!
[1] Link to BGD programme.
[2] See: www.democracynow.org/seo/2011/12/9/frustrated_by_inaction_youth_delegates_occupy, www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/Protesters-Occupy-Durban-Climate-Conference-135333748.html, http://occupycop17.org/about
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
System, not consumers, are the big green problem | Energy Bulletin
System, not consumers, are the big green problem Energy Bulletin
Not sure if this is true, and are we part of the prolem?
Not sure if this is true, and are we part of the prolem?
Saudi Arabia - Headed for a downfall? | Energy Bulletin
Saudi Arabia - Headed for a downfall? Energy Bulletin
have read the article and also begs the question what will this all mean for use in the West.
have read the article and also begs the question what will this all mean for use in the West.
Monday, 5 December 2011
Some reflections on a day at Occupy LSX at St Paul’s Cathedral
Some reflections on a day at Occupy LSX at St Paul’s Cathedral
really intresting view point from Rob Hopkins and his experinces at Occupy LSX
really intresting view point from Rob Hopkins and his experinces at Occupy LSX
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