Architecture Sans Frontieres-UK’s Post

As we commemorate Human Rights Day in South Africa, it's crucial to recognize the intersection between human rights and urban planning. The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, 2013 plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the rights of all citizens in our diverse and dynamic nation. Here's how: 1️⃣ Access to Adequate Housing: SPLUMA ensures that every South African has the right to access adequate housing by guiding land use planning and development to address housing needs, promote affordability, and prevent discrimination in housing provision. 2️⃣ Equitable Access to Public Services: By promoting spatial integration and mixed-use development, SPLUMA aims to ensure that all communities have equitable access to essential public services such as healthcare, education, transportation, and recreation, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or location. 3️⃣ Protection of Cultural Heritage: Recognizing the importance of cultural heritage in promoting human dignity and identity, SPLUMA incorporates provisions for the preservation and protection of heritage sites, ensuring that diverse cultural identities are respected and celebrated in urban planning processes. 4️⃣ Environmental Justice: SPLUMA promotes environmental justice by guiding sustainable land use practices that minimize environmental degradation, protect natural resources, and mitigate the impacts of urban development on vulnerable communities, particularly those living in informal settlements or marginalized areas. 5️⃣ Community Participation and Consultation: Upholding the principles of democracy and participatory governance, SPLUMA mandates inclusive public participation in land use planning processes, empowering communities to voice their concerns, aspirations, and needs in shaping the future of their neighborhoods. On this Human Rights Day, let's reaffirm our commitment to upholding the inherent dignity and rights of all South Africans through equitable and inclusive spatial planning practices. Together, let's build cities and communities where every individual can thrive, flourish, and realize their full potential. 🌟🏙️ #HumanRightsDay #SPLUMA #InclusiveUrbanism #SouthAfrica

In our monthly newsletter today 📬 🆕 Housing Europe briefing on fostering social cohesion and safety in vulnerable areas In an ever-evolving urban landscape, the imperative of investing in people to nurture inclusive, resilient communities has never been more pronounced. With this in mind, our Senior Policy Officer, Edit Lakatos, and Policy Assistant, Johanne Philippe, have prepared a new research briefing spotlighting the impactful solutions offered by public, cooperative, and social housing providers across Europe. At the heart of our research are the sector's endeavours to improve living conditions, provide quality housing, and facilitate access to opportunities. 🎯 By addressing the root causes of segregation, social exclusion, and anti-social behaviour, these initiatives pave the way for more cohesive, thriving communities. ✅ How to identify the pitfalls that need to be avoided? ✅ What can housing providers do to prevent potential backlash? ✅ How to roll out or further scale up actions that tackle these trends? ✅ What could help social housing providers in building arguments? Find tested practices in public, cooperative, and social housing in our briefing. https://lnkd.in/eeJBUtv9 Find more about what drives the day of the housing world in Housing Europe's newsletter - https://lnkd.in/e2kPGCvN #socialcohesion #buildingcommunities #safety #socialinnovation #newsletter

A new report from Housing Europe examines good practice for building social cohesion and improving safety in urban areas. Key success factors for such initiatives include: 💡 Neighbourhood approach 💡 Multi-stakeholder engagement 💡 Building trust between partners 💡 Social mix & others. Check out the report ⬇ , where you can find a best practice from our member ÖrebroBostäder AB : the first public housing provider in Sweden to include an obligation to hire unemployed local residents in construction projects as a condition in the procurement process. 👏 Edit Lakatos Johanne Philippe

UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) invites any people in Gibraltar engaged with shaping the built environment - from different sectors - civil society, government, private sector, academia and professional bodies - via urban planning and management to fill a survey aimed to explore the level of participation till the end of May. 🔎 For a quick overview checkout the Our City Plan on Insta: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dynke8-e 📑 Survey is here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d9eHc9AH There are many ways of participating in urban planning processes and management and anyone's participation in the survey will contribute to measuring results at the city and country level and monitoring the localisation of SDG 11 worldwide. #gibraltar #urbanplanning #democracy #participation #inclusion #beingheard #respresentation #placemaking #britishoverseasterritory #unhabitat #ourcityplans

Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the EU face severe housing deprivation? 🏠 Habitat for Humanity's new EU Manifesto for 2024-2029, "Strategies for Affordable Housing and Thriving Communities," sets out our key priorities and recommendations to address this critical issue. This manifesto is a call to action for the European Parliament and Commission to put affordable housing at the heart of their policy agenda for the next legislative term. Join us in advocating for a Europe where everyone has a safe, decent place to call home. 📄 Dive into the manifesto here: https://ow.ly/nrcO50T6gvi #AffordableHousing #EUManifesto #ThrivingCommunities

📢 ICYMI: DAG INTERVIEW WITH NEWZROOM AFRIKA   “The need to unlock well-located state-owned land for affordable housing is dire because we’re going to see the housing backlog increase tremendously. The housing market in itself has become unaffordable for millions of South Africans.”   Recently DAG’s Project Coordinator, Ryan Fester, joined Newzroom Afrika to discuss the #housingcrisis, #homelessness, how #climatechange will continue to impact urban environments, and how using well-located state-owned land for affordable housing is essential if we are to effectively address our housing challenges.   Through consistent advocacy for urgent housing interventions, particularly in the City of Cape Town, we will continue to strive towards a society in which spatial justice is the norm.   For more insights on the state of affordable housing in South Africa, watch Ryan’s full interview here: https://lnkd.in/dJRDTc5v

🆕 Constructing Consensus: The case for community-powered development and regeneration In a report out today, New Local argue for a better system of development in England – one that fully involves and empowers communities in decision-making. Deeper community involvement is key to speeding up building plans and ensuring quality and sustainability. Read the report 👉 https://lnkd.in/d2CS6Jz5 🧵

Insights from Minister Tertuis Alfred Simmers, Minister of Infrastructure, Department of Infrastructure, at the 11th Annual Western Cape Procurement Conference. In this video, Minister Simmers addresses how procurement can drive positive change and contribute to our local communities. He also discusses the strategic practices and collaborative partnerships already in place within the region, highlighting their impact on community development and regional growth. #SPW2024WC #ProcurementConference #PublicSector #Day1

Last Friday was a chance to present with RTPI colleagues from Norway and a pioneering community leader from Morvern in Scotland about 'Meeting Rural Housing Challenges in Norway and Scotland' for World Town Planning Day. I was able to: 1. do a (very) short intro to the Scottish planning and political system; 2. highlight the rural housing crisis in Scotland and the need for innovation; 3. showcase (with Sam Firth from Morvern) an innovative response to community-owned delivery of 21st century crofting; 4. explore some of the planning issues and obstacles that are still being faced despite NPF4s support for crofting and woodland crofting (and how to address these)...and advocate for support of such innovative community-led initiatives; 5. stress that we need to consider innovation in regulation not just innovation in delivery; 6. uncover that in Norway for 50 years a 'duty of occupation' legal mechanism has existed covering rural homes, allowing municipalities to ensure rural houses are retained as primary dwellings if required. This is rooted in a policy where second homes and primary homes are assigned different use classes (unlike in Scotland); 7. explain that in Scotland similar 'duty of occupation' controls do exist in the 1886 Crofting Act for this tenure type of rural housing... and as such controls are already fully supported by NPF4 and enshrined in our planning system; 8. and finally argue that in Scotland - where a Chief Planner letter (2011) strongly discourages the use of occupancy conditions - we nevertheless need to revisit this and also explore the idea of implementing use classes differentiating between second and primary homes. This to empower our local authorities to be able to prevent loss of primary dwelling stock to second home usage when required in specific locations...ensuring the potential application of a 'duty of occupation' as primary dwelling for all tenure types of rural homes, not just crofts. I'm convinced we need innovation in regulation not just delivery to meet the rural housing crisis, and that we have a model in our own culture of crofting that could be unpacked to serve everyone looking to live locally in rural Scotland, whatever the tenure. Please watch and comment with your thoughts! (and a big thanks to Julia Frost, Cliff Hague and RTPI Scotland for entrusting Place at the Table with the chance to speak)

Affordable, sustainable and decent housing must become a reality for all.    We welcome the appointment of Dan Jørgensen as Commissioner for Energy and Housing to present the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan, which we have been advocating for many years.     Still, we call for:  🏘️ a fully integrated European Platform on Combatting Homelessness, with a dedicated budget and work programme for 2024–2029;  🏘️ climate-neutral and resource-efficient construction methods;  🏘️ an expanded scope for long-term public and private investment to optimise EU resources supporting decent housing for all.    Our opinion: europa.eu/!CQfRKK    European Commission #SocialHousing