Project updates
Lambeth Council
Lambeth Council have launched consultations on designs for public space in the Oval to Stokwell and Railton Low traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN). The introduction of LTN in 2020 has led to a reduction in vehicle use and the project aims to further this idea and make public spaces safer to walk and cycle.
MHCLG is supporting the project and funding via PropTech Round 2 was awarded to enable adoption of 3d modelling tools for digital consultations.
Further information is available here via the consultation web pages:
Have your say on designs for public space in the Railton Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN)
Have your say on designs for public space in the Oval to Stockwell Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN)
Leicester City Council
Leicester City Council have completed the third stage of their community engagement for the proposed regeneration of the Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre.
The aim of the project is to engage with the local community to explore opportunities and shape a vision that will bring unused land and property back into use, improve life for local residents and help kickstart the regeneration of this important part of the city. Government funding has been awarded via PropTech Round 2 to support the development of this vision.
Further information is available via the Stocking Farm Neighbourhood Centre – Community Engagement webpage.
Lewes District Council
Lewes District Council have been working with Commonplace to pilot a place-based engagement platform for the seaside town of Newhaven, East Sussex. The Your Newhaven website has now launched; features include an introductory animation video, interactive funding map and a live consultation on outdoor and recreational space.
Newhaven is set to benefit from over £38 million of public investment in total, following successful bids to three separate funds in recent years: Future High Streets Fund, Towns Fund, and Levelling Up Fund. This project will help to increase understanding and community engagement in these extensive Regeneration plans, greatly strengthening the outcomes of these funds.
Watford Borough Council
Watford Borough Council have launched their Neighbourhood Grant Portal which allows local people the opportunity to apply for funding up to 20K to address the impact of new development in the area.
The funding has been generated from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts. The Commonplace platform has been designed to increase transparency around the allocation of developer contributions.
All applications will be visible on a map, allowing residents to track projects applications from receipt right they way through to project completion . Further iterations will enable residents to show their support for shortlisting projects via a poll.
The platform also gives residents an opportunity to share any ideas they have on improving their local neighbourhoods, the ideas will be reviewed and the council will submit an application during the next bidding cycle to deliver.
Further information is available via Watford Borough Council’s website.
Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Council have launched their Druids Heath Together website platform to enable the local community of Druids Heath to explore opportunities and to help shape a vision for the holistic regeneration of their estate. The website follows the journey from cabinet approval through to design concepts and master planning and gives residents a chance to share any ideas while working with the council to improve their local neighbourhood as well as to understand the regeneration journey.
Government funding has been awarded via MHCLG PropTech Round 2 to support the development of 3D virtual modelling as part of the website to test out regeneration opportunities with residents through virtual and augmented reality as well as by making the regeneration process and decisions clearer.
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Your Neighbourhood, Your Voice is the new area on the WeAreW11 app for all things engagement and co-design on the Lancaster West Estate. This new engagement hub will have embedded surveys, the ability to book consultation calls with our engagement team, and a calendar of upcoming events and activities.
In addition, there is a new accessibility feature, with the ability to toggle visual aids, change font size, adjust contrast, and translation to 10 different languages, making the engagement hub more accessible and inclusive for residents. The aim will be to encourage Lancaster West Estate (LWE) residents to engage on various different projects on the estate that will not only shape their homes, but also the community.
In the coming weeks we will also be streamlining how residents communicate through the app, which includes a feature to message us directly through WhatsApp.
Havant Borough Council
Havant Borough Council is using its Proptech Round 2 funding to digitally transform our community engagement for all the Council’s projects. We are now working with CitizenLab to launch our first digital community engagement programme on the future of play area design in the borough. This supports one of the authorities strategic priorities on tackling childhood obesity, improving childhood mental wellbeing and creating inclusive play spaces in the borough.
‘We want your views on fun’ is trialling new ways of gathering feedback to co-design two play areas that will be undergoing refurbishment through Community Infrastructure Levy funding
UK Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) 
