Camden always takes into account the diversity of the population in the design, renovation and management of new public buildings or spaces. The Camden Local Plan (2017) is the key strategic document in Camden’s development plan. It sets out the vision for shaping the future of the Borough and contains policies for guiding planning decisions. The Plan was produced from a comprehensive evidence base of information about the borough and changes that are taking place in and around it as well as the views of residents through two rounds of consultation. The strategy and policies set out in the final document are therefore designed to reflect the needs and desires of Camden’s diverse communities. The Plan is supported by a suite of planning guidance that provides additional guidance in relation to: access for all; community uses; design; health and wellbeing and public open space amongst others.
When it decides to reconstruct an area, the Camden council uses different methods and places for consultation to ensure the meaningful involvement of people with different migrant/minority backgrounds. Camden is producing area specific planning guidance documents to use alongside planning applications, that reflect the needs of the most affected communities. While digital methods (We Are Camden) are increasingly used to reach as many people as possible, under-represented parts of the community will also be targeted using a variety of different techniques, such as using the Camden Council Community Research Team. After each consultation, a report is published alongside the guidance document that it has informed.
Camden Council also works with developers and encourages them, as part of their pre-application engagement, to try and ensure that they are talking and listening to all the community. The council incites people to demonstrate how they have connected with young people and those from different ethnic backgrounds through the Statement of Community Involvement which needs to be submitted with their application.
