In the Historic Towns Forum’s December Newsletter IHBC Director Sean O’Reilly outlines how the American volunteer training or ‘docent’ model might operate in UK heritage planning, outlining a scheme that has helped secure a £5000 research funding allocation in Oxford University to test the concept in real planning environments.
Based on a presentation to an HTF Neighbourhood Planning event in Oxford, in the HTF Newsletter Sean O’Reilly suggests that: ‘A ‘game-changer’ in the planning process – particularly, but not only for heritage – would be offering wider support and public recognition for appropriately qualified, informed and skilled local volunteers working in and with the local community on planning-related matters.
Such skilled volunteers should be trained and overseen to an extent that would ensure that they could contribute to local planning processes to a standard supported and recognised by all players in development: local interests, public regulators and private developers. That recognition would be underpinned by the collective understanding of their ability to represent local issues fairly, reasonably and with an informed awareness of how the planning system operates as a whole.’
For more details download the Newsletter from the HTF website
For the HTF see www.historictownsforum.org
