Project Overview
Urban Symbiotics (US) established the Purley Panel in late 2019 to co-produce the Purley community-led vision and framework.
Under US’s stewardship, the Purley Panel was established as a group to represent the demographic profile of the town, involving local stakeholders that were active within the community, such as local resident associations, teachers, parents, representatives of local youth organisations, local mosque representatives and the Purley Business Improvement District (BID). US ran initial ‘insight workshops’ followed by a programme of ‘co-solve workshops’ that saw participants actively solve local issues and develop projects that would maximise their aspirations. The panel used their extensive ‘trust routes’ and local networks to disseminate surveys and information to the wider community. US now supports the panel in the realisation of the community vision and regeneration framework by building capacity, supporting funding applications and helping to deliver the projects associated with the Framework in Purley.
Process
1. Internal stakeholder engagement
US started by engaging with local councillors and council staff who work in Purley to identify key community groups for the setting up of the Purley Panel.
2. Setting up a Community Panel
Through stakeholder mapping, interviews and community meetings, US facilitated the identification of members for the Purley Panel from across the community. The long-term vision for the Panel is for it to grow into a self-sufficient, representative community group capable of seeking funding that will help deliver future local initiatives.
3. Wider Community Survey
The Panel assisted in developing and distributing a survey which covered key sites in Purley to gather insight to focus the emerging framework. The survey was promoted on a dedicated website and had 423 responses, which were reviewed with the Panel in subsequent workshops. Continuous engagement has now led to the Purley Panel engaging with over 1,000 participants through targeted activities and events as a part of their inclusive high street pilot.
4. Schools Programme
A school’s programme was developed to address the low survey response rate from under-15s. The programme involved the co-design of spaces, workshops, assemblies and pizza nights as well as introducing wider discussions about careers in the built environment and targeted tasks for key sites identified in the vision and framework.
5. Draft Vision & Regeneration Framework
Through continuous engagement with the Purley Panel, the vision and framework was co-produced to identify strategic principles and community visions for key sites, as well as deliverable projects to be taken forward alongside a community-led projects handbook. Selected projects are now being funded by the Mayor’s High Streets For All challenge to be piloted and tested in Purley.
