Date: 06 Oct 2009

Time: 6.30pm

Venue: Architecture Centre, Bristol

Fee: Free Entry

Legislation introduced in April 2009 calls for all local authorities to involve local people in decisions that affect them.
Six months on, has this mandate made a difference to how local authorities engage with communities around physical regeneration? Is it leading to more participative design processes? The event is part of a series of debates held in several locations across the UK, which bring together those who have been affected by the new legislation, as designers, community members and local authorities. With panellists and audience members from both professional and community backgrounds, you’ll be able to explore the topic from a range of perspectives.  This is your chance to get involved and join the discussion! This debate is organised in partnership with Architecture Centre, Bristol We have an exciting and diverse group of panellists for the Bristol debate, you'll be able to join in the discussion and hear the thoughts and views from different perspectives around the Duty to Involve topic. Jeff Bishop, Director, BDOR Ltd Though trained initially as an architect, Jeff’s work now focuses on participation around planning, design and sustainability issues in the UK and overseas. Jeff’s research for government was pivotal to the changes in the planning system around better engagement and he has also written national guidelines on engagement. Jeff’s teaching and training covers young people and councillors, architects and community groups, planners and policy makers at all levels. His current and recent projects list includes the participation processes for Village Design Statements (with communities in the UK and Ireland), the regeneration of Bridgwater, the largest wind power project in south Wales and community-led adaptation to climate change. He is an adviser on engagement to the Sustainable Development Commission and the Environment Agency and a Masterclass tutor for the OECD. Will Lakin, Architect, RIBA Will Lakin has 17 years experience working in bespoke Architectural practices in England and Hong Kong. Will set up his own practice in 2006 and in addition lectures in Architecture at Plymouth University, is a design enabler for MADE in the West Midlands, and has been a panel member of the South West Design Review Panel since 2005. Will Lakin Architects specialise in the design and procurement of bespoke architecture. Current projects range from masterplanning and urban design to carbon neutral houses. Mark Leach, Bristol City Council Is currently Sustainability Adviser for Bristol City Council. Early community involvement experience was gained at the Neighbourhood Initiatives Foundation, helping local authorities and communities to run Planning For Real® exercises throughout England & Wales. Working in a consultancy role, Mark continued to practice community involvement and became an experienced trainer, delivering a range of training in community engagement techniques to a range of audiences. Since 2003 Mark has worked for Bristol City Council in an advisory capacity, working both directly with communities and, since late 2006, with strategic planning, policy and other teams to improve the way the council engages with communities. Mark's specialisms within the field of community involvement are around broadening out engagement to frequently excluded groups and combining genuine bottom up working with grass-roots local people with strategic issues that are “hard to reach” for the majority of local people. He has particular interest in exploring how organisations inform their audiences as a part of consultation and engagement. Shakrari Raj, Coordinator, Love Easton Urban Design Task Group Shankari Raj is a qualified architect and local resident of the ward of Easton, Bristol. In January 2009 she set up the Love Easton Urban Design Task Group to create a strategic and community-led regeneration document for the ward. Shankari has worked on enhancing consultation and participation within both a university and architectural practice setting over the last 5 years. More recently she has set up her own company to work exclusively on developing marketing and coordination strategies to engage people from different backgrounds in consultation and community events. The Glass-House would like to thank all the speakers and those who attended. If you missed the debate, below are the speakers informative and useful presentations. Jeff Bishop  , Will Lakin part 1  , Will Lakin part 2   The Architecture Centre champions the creation of better quality neighbourhoods, buildings and public spaces. They promote the value of good design in the South West and sustainable approaches to architecture and design. They work through: participation - enabling real public engagement in architecture, the built environment and the public realm; advocacy - promoting the case for architecture and design of the highest quality; and education - developing a greater understanding of architecture, design and the public realm. Based on Bristol’s Harbourside with a gallery, a shop with additional exhibition space and a seminar room. They relate directly to the urban environment of Bristol as well as responding to the wider South West region. Founded by the architectural community in 1996 they have developed a wide audience and a diverse programme. The arts programme consists of exhibitions, work with artists, visits to inspiring buildings, events, lectures and critical debate. The education programme involves schools, teachers and families as well as youth and community groups. Architecture Centre, Bristol work with communities undergoing change to empower them to shape their environment for the better, and with built environment professionals, local authority officers and councillors to support the achievement of design excellence. They work in an open and integrated way developing themes across our programmes. Architecture Centre, Bristol