Learn about the place standard, place vs. movement tools, the latest community engagement guidance and an overview of deign tools to help you identify priorities and create accessible designs.

1. Community Engagement
and Placemaking tools
Tierney Lovell and Stewart Inglis
Community Links PLUS

2. Place Standard

3. What is it?
• A free resource.
• Provides a simple framework
for discussions about the
quality of a place.
• Can be used to identify
priorities for place.
• It is designed to be accessible to
everyone: communities, the
private, public and third sectors.

4. Why use it, and where?
• Understanding place can help decision-
making and resources targeting.
• Support design and delivery of places,
creating quality development.
• Different sizes and types of place, urban or
rural, whole towns or distinct
neighbourhoods.
• Places that are well-established, that are
changing, or that are still being planned.

5. How does it work?
• 14 questions covering different topics:
– Physical (e.g. buildings, public transport)
– Social (e.g. perceptions of safety, having a say
in decision-making).
• Rate on a scale from 1 to 7, and plot this on the
graph. A group should agree ratings.
• Also record the reasons behind answers –
qualitative and quantitative results.
• A site visit highly beneficial.
• As a group, look at results and agree priorities and
actions.

6. Positives we have found include:
• Facilitating dialogue about place
between different stakeholders.
• Setting an agenda for discussion.
• Encouraged holistic assessment of
projects.
• A clear connection to action - not a
talking shop.
• A form of CPD for users.

7. Points to consider:
• Quality outputs require effort - investment
of time and resources.
• Facilitators beneficial - directs discussion of
scoring and assessment.
• Parameters must be set and expectations
managed – a comprehensive overview but
not every point will result in action.
• Scoring can be challenging – needs good
facilitation and note keeping to agree scores
and record differing views.

8. Find out more
• Website: https://placestandard.scot/
• Online and paper versions of the tool.
• Guidance on how to use it.

9. Place vs Movement tools

10. Designing Streets (2010)
SCOTS National Roads Development
Guide (2017)
• Street design must consider place
before movement.
• Compares streets’ functions in terms
of:
– Movement (e.g. walking, cycling,
public transport, commercial
vehicles, private vehicles)
– Place (e.g. social, economic and
community functions of streets).
• Each street will have different
priorities.

11. London Street Types Tool
• Considers place and movement
functions into more specific
• Moving
• Living
• Unlocking
• Functioning
• Protecting
• Sustaining
• Recognises wider network (considers
both local and strategic significance
place and movement)

12. Street Types
• While these are London-focused
categories, the principle of creating
‘types’ can be used to structure
conversations elsewhere.
• Can be used to facilitate strategic,
city-wide conversations about both
movement and place.

13. Use in strategic planning
• Mapping priorities, hierarchies and
street types across the network
• Aids dialogue between planning and
transport teams at a strategic level

14. Community Engagement Guidance

15. • Series of documents:
– Public
– Partners
– Sustrans
• Contents:
– Principles
– Guidance on techniques
and best practice
– Useful resources

16. Guiding principles
1. Integrate engagement
2. Resource to succeed
3. Understand communities
4. Set ground rules
5. Communicate

17. Guiding principles cont.
6. Innovative and flexible
engagement
7. Feedback
8. Deliver
9. Measure success
10. Leave a legacy

18. Guidance on techniques and best practice
An example of this content: Events
Events can be many different things. Effective formats include:
• Charrettes
• Themed workshops
• Exhibitions and roadshows
• Feedback presentations
• Site visits
• Photo surveys and mapping exercises
• Drawing and model-making
• School workshops
• Sessions with local artists

19. Venue selection should be based
on:
• Visibility
• Accessibility
• Facilities
• Approachability
Promotion and publicity should
be varied, including:
• Posters and banners
• Leafleting and door-to-door
contact
• Social media

20. Timing of events will help determine attendance, so:
• Hold multiple events, on different days and/or at
different times
• Clashing events a threat or an opportunity –
coordinate
Creating a positive, open and welcoming atmosphere:
• Greet people on arrival
• Engage in conversation
• Use an ‘icebreaker’
• Use first names
• Set aside job titles and organisations
• Create mixed groups.
• Trained facilitators
• Refreshments

21. A range of resources can be used to
deliver events:
• Information boards
• Visualisations and photographs
• Maps
• Models
• Films and animations
• Games for younger participants
A way of enabling attendees to leave
their thoughts, e.g. Post-it notes,
comments books, annotated maps and
plans, or via note takers.

22. Other design tools

23. **HOT OFF THE PRESS!**
Gehl Institute Public Life Tool
• https://gehlinstitute.org/tools/
• Age and Gender Count
• People Moving Count
• 12 Quality Criteria
• Intercept Survey
• Stationary Activity Mapping

27. Careful observation

32. Put your feet in their shoes

38. Design in three dimensions

39. Think about
designs in
three
dimensions

40. Think about
designs in
three
dimensions

41. • How will the design feel to walk/ride through?
• Will it work for everybody?
• How do people currently use the space?
• What is special about the site? How can I support and amplify this?

42. Any Questions?
Tierney.lovell@Sustrans.org.uk
Stewart.Inglis@Sustrans.org.uk
www.sustrans.org.uk
Twitter @sustrans
www.sustrans.org.uk