Why we need a new approach to lead communities through urban change
Studio THI challenged more than 50 urbanists to take a different approach to strategic planning during a Leading Transformational Urban Change workshop at the Planning Institute of Australia Planning Congress 2022 in Hobart last month.
“The workshop invited participants to consider what we, as a sector, need to lead transformational change and what we need to do differently to take a change leadership approach on our projects,” Studio THI senior strategist Peter Browning said.
“Urban planning and development projects that result in significant change require a transition leadership strategy that is informed by a deep understanding about the community’s change readiness.
“Our sector does not think twice about preparing housing, transport and environmental studies to inform strategic and neighbourhood plans. We might prepare character and social plans, but we don’t often research what the community and stakeholders need to navigate and lead the proposed transition.”
Workshop participants were asked to discuss the importance of community preparedness and transition leadership in sustainable urban development. Photo: PIA Conference Photography
Working within the congress theme of “Opportunity in crisis: Time for a change”, workshop participants were asked to focus on three provocations:
The inclusion of a community and stakeholder preparedness phase should be at the beginning of all our strategic planning and major projects
The development of a Transition Leadership Strategy is equally as important as other studies and should be a key output of the strategic planning process or major projects that will result in significant community and urban change.
Their urban transition leadership skill set
Studio THI CEO Jennifer Michelmore outlined the concepts developed to assess community change readiness. These included urban change literacy, place re-attachment, and confidence in the urban development system.
Participants then had an opportunity to role play, assessing the preparedness of different stakeholders, applying the concepts to communities they are or have worked with.
Groups then given a range of ‘How Might We’ statements that THI developed in response to challenges from previous change readiness surveys, along with ‘Idea Starter Cards’ to help them develop ideas.
Studio THI CEO Jennifer Michelmore takes participants through the importance of community preparedness in urban development. Photo: PIA Conference Photography
The key themes explored were:
How might we build knowledge on why urban growth happens?
How might we explore and address the changing urban identity of neighbourhoods?
How might we ensure elected officials have the capability, tools and resources needed to be transition leaders?
How might we build empathy around the needs and desires of others?
The key ideas developed included:
School and community education programs on why urban change is happening
Creation of short Tik Tok videos of key urban change concepts and the creation of You-tube channel about urban change and planning
Formation of Urban Transition Leadership Task Forces in high growth communities - a panel of community members who reflect a diversity of views and work with them to be transition leaders, developing tailored local strategies
Using virtual tools and exhibitions to help communicate urban change history, challenges and options
Increase change management skills in planning through professional development programs, incorporate in university degrees and on the job training
State Government to allocate funding to high growth LGAs to support it to prepare communities for the urban transformation of its regions
Community campaigns and programing with a range of ideas including:
Local community organisations nominate great examples of growth in their region that make them feel proud
Leverage local art and performance community to create interesting programs
Virtual walking tours telling the story of the changing city
A community journal sharing stories of urban change in the community
Live in my shoes community experience
“It was great to see the breadth of ideas. It demonstrates that we know we need to develop the community's urban change literacy if we are to get support for the types of change that sustainable urban development is trying to progress,“ Peter said.
