Sendra, Pablo; Fitzpatrick, Daniel; (2024) People's Plan: The political role of architecture and urban design for alternative community-led futures. In: Bobic, Nikolina and Haghighi, Farzaneh, (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Architecture, Urban Space and Politics, Volume II: Ecology, Social Participation and Marginalities. (pp. 434-450). Routledge: Abingdon, UK.

Text (Chapter 27 [Part 4]) Sendra_Peoples Plan_chapter_AAM.pdf Access restricted to UCL open access staff until 23 November 2025. Download (3MB)

Abstract

Community activism contesting developments can face many challenges. These include keeping a diverse community together during the struggle, residents’ concerns being ignored or treated as a nuisance and the support needed to influence decision-making. A People’s Plan has proved to be a tool that can address these challenges. It is not a statutory document but a resident-led alternative scheme, generally with the support of architects, urban designers or planners, alongside community organizers, quantity surveyors and other consultants. A People’s Plan provides a community vision that residents feel connected to and provides a reference document that can be used to negotiate with local authorities or developers. It also brings people together with one purpose – proving that residents are not just opposing but also proposing an alternative community-led scheme. This chapter traces a short history of People’s Plans in community activism in London, looking at cases from the 1970s and 1980s, and some contemporary cases. In doing so, the chapter explores the changing political role of architecture, planning and urban design in contesting developments and proposing community-led alternatives.

Download activity - last month

Export as JSONCSVXML

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as JSONCSVXML

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Archive Staff Only

View Item