Community Design
Many community groups often find themselves with some great ideas for a project, but lack the initial resources to get their ideas down on paper. A good set of concept plans or detailed drawings are invaluable for presenting ideas, obtaining budget costings and more importantly applying for grant contributions from the numerous agencies and organisations which award them.
With this in mind the Environmental Projects Team has developed Community Design. This initiative has been established to directly provide a design service to help take ideas from concept to implementation. A professional designer is commissioned based on their particular expertise on behalf of a community group who works in consultation with them to produce the plans needed to get a project moving. At the same time, one of the Projects Team's Planning Officers is available throughout the life of the project to give any advice and assistance that the group need to see the project through to completion.
At the beginning of December 2004 Community Design gained a commendation for the ‘Best Community Planning Project' at the North West Royal Town Planning Institute Awards.
Following a successful 2 year pilot in partnership with Barclays and the North West Development Agency, the initiative is set to continue to help community groups striving to bring about local change across the county.
So far, we have assisted with over 60 projects through Community Design, helping to attract more than £1 million to groups working on projects in their own neighbourhoods, achieving both imaginative and lasting results. For more information about some of our projects please see our project case studies pages.
Criteria
- Is your project within Lancashire
- Are you an identifiable community group
- Has the project idea come from the community
- Would this design work allow your project to realistically attract funding and move forward to implementation
- Have you got some potential sources of funding in mind
- Have you got the landowners permission to undertake a scheme
If you think your project fits our criteria please contact us at:
Environmental Projects Team
Environment Directorate
Lancashire County Council
Guild House, Cross Street
Preston, Lancashire
PR1 8RD
Tel: (01772) 534847