Post on 11-Feb-2015
description
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
From URF (urban rural fringe) to RUF (rural urban fringe; Whose opportunity space?
Alister ScottClaudia Carter, Mark Reed, Peter Larkham, Nicki Schiessel, Karen Leach, Nick Morton, Rachel Curzon David Jarvis, Andrew Hearle, Mark Middleton, Bob Forster, Keith Budden, Ruth Waters, David Collier, Chris Crean, Miriam Kennet, Richard Coles and Ben Stonyer
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Plan
1. RUF in context 2. The RUF research
opportunity 3. Visioning using a RUF
transect 4. Discussion: Realising
new opportunity spaces within the RUF
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Unpacking jargon 1 Defining the rural urban fringe
• it is the fuzzy and dynamic space where town and countryside uses, interests, ideas meet.
• Directly adjacent to town/city or in countryside where it is dominated by urban interests
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Multiple Faces of the Fringe • Innovative • Edgelands • Transitional • Fuzzy • Messy • Reactionary
• Ad-hoc • Diverse • Dynamic • Neglected • Valued• Contested
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Academics on the fringe • Dominant space of 20C
(Mckenzie, 1996)• Collection of dynamic and
productive environments (Spedding 2004)
• Misunderstood space (Gallent et al 2006)
• Fringe as a ‘weed’ (Cresswell 1997)
• Battleground for urban and rural uses (Hough, 1990)
• Landscape out of order (Qvistrom 2007)
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
The RUF problem/opportunity • At the heart of current
planning debate in England (NPPF)
• Urban-centric space shaped by macro-economic drivers and planning policy
• Contested stakeholder views
• Environmental change agenda offers rethink
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Managing Environmental Change at the rural urban fringe
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Unpacking jargon 2 Spatial Planning (sectors and scales) Ecosystem approach
(Env goods and services)
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
Housing Wildlife
Flood controlGreen space
Biodiversity
Walking Corridor
Play space
School extension
SUDS
25 year masterplan
Road access
Tree planting
Corridor Air filters
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Converging, wicked problems
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
• Worcestershire 19th July 16 participants (community and agency reps)
• To experience/assess the different ‘personalities’ within the RUF
• To share knowledge, experience and expertise looking at the RUF past, present and future
Field based Visioning exercise
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
The RUF transect • Idea of a transition and
gradient thru RUF• Environmental character areas • Data led (GIS) via
Worcestershire GIP• Transect maximised number
of environmental character areas
• 3 Area selected for exercise
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Birmingham
Redditch
Viewpoint 3 Lickey Hills
Viewpoint 2 Coopers Hill
Viewpoint 1 Redditch
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Viewpoints
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
Viewpoint 1 Viewpoint 2
Viewpoint 3
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Results
• Long Termism • Values and Decision
Making • Connectivity
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“Seems to be a local authority that has restricted itself by greenbelt designation in how we can develop and build” (Viewpoint 1)
“Look at environmental boundaries, (and) make them more fluid” (Viewpoint 1 (3))
“(Farming) and for the long term people are going to have to pay to keep that landscape looking as it is” (Viewpoint 2)
Long Termism 1
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“... whether to have more compact high density development versus more spread out development “(Viewpoint 1).
“..develop along our linear routes and have corridors of development reflecting a more sustainable finger approach (Viewpoint 3)
“look at recreational development using canal, countryside (prow) & M42” (Viewpoint 2)
“ ..This place had a personality when Longbridge was there, .(now) ambiguous...” (Viewpoint 3)
Long Termism 2
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“(Not Redditch per se) its more about looking towards Birmingham and (its) influence on North Worcestershire.” (Viewpoint1)
“lot of traffic (M42).. making use of the ruf around the city... Planning has provided connections to get people where they want to be (Viewpoint 2)
“The canal/footpaths used for leisure … so you got a lot things happening in the same space” (Viewpoint 2)
Connectivity 1
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“(That green space) owned by BVT and NT and …Cadbury it would have run together and coalesced with Bromsgrove and Redditch
“I like my green space with houses and life and people, all the trees” (Viewpoints 3 (1))
(Redditch) has been commuter land especially with train (cheapest area in Worcestershire to live)
“That’s Birmingham's water, comes 72 miles from Elan valley in Wales” (Viewpoint 3)
Connectivity 2
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“Redditch built to be accessible by public transport; hence prioritisation of bus routes /pedestrian underpasses” (Viewpoint 1)
“Why do you always need growth” (Viewpoint 2)“This is what the transition groups are setting up
across the UK..where farmers let strips of land for local food production” (Viewpoint 2)
“For me its sense of community. We help each other volunteering for the community” (Viewpoint 2)
Values 1
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
“We have been here 18 years in that time we have seen not a lot of changes which is wonderful” (viewpoint 2)
“Wind, solar, methane as part of a new mix..for economic development” (viewpoint 2)
“reducing urban heat island by planting trees is going to become so much more important (Viewpoint 3)
Values 2
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
Opportunity Spaces in RUF• CHAMPION : to articulate the RUF as a place in its
own right with distinct needs • ADAPT : highlight different thinking and ideas to
change institutional values and planning processes eg urban agriculture ; green belt ; development
• SCALE : Work on the problem and opportunity at/across the right scale(s)
• RECONSTRUCT: improve lens to view, tell and change the RUF story
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain
reluRural Economy andLand Use Programme
• http://www.bcu.ac.uk/research/-centres-of-excellence/centre-for-environment-and-society/projects/relu
• http://twitter.com/#!/reluruf
• Alister Scott alister.scott@bcu.ac.uk
Questions ?
Building interdisciplinarity across the rural domain