Urgent call for youth participation in development strategies

Urgent call for youth participation in development strategies

Increasing Youth Participation in Urban Planning

In the rapidly growing urban areas of London, Cambridge, Leeds, and other cities, it's crucial to foster inclusive and youth-centered engagement platforms to ensure the voices of young people are heard in urban planning discussions.

Currently, the planning system tends to engage more with those who are already on the housing ladder, which is primarily an older demographic. This imbalance can be seen in planning committees, where figures from the RTPI show that the majority of participants are aged over 55. This demographic frequently opposes planning applications for new housing, potentially due to a vested interest in maintaining high house prices.

On the other hand, most first-time home buyers on new settlements and urban extensions will be at primary school today or not yet born. The planning and development sector may need to adopt practices from other sectors to reach younger people effectively.

To address this issue, key strategies include establishing formal mechanisms to integrate youth voices into municipal strategic planning, budgeting, and monitoring frameworks. Local governments can also adopt clear, actionable youth engagement tools and policies, such as those provided by ICLEI.

Developing youth innovation hubs and participatory programs can empower young people to propose, design, and pilot urban solutions. Utilizing digital tools and social media platforms creatively can also help bridge the gap between online youth expression and real-world policy action.

Local governments can partner directly with youth organizations and educational institutions to create continuous feedback loops for urban planning. Allocating specific resources and roles for youth engagement can also ensure actionable input, while capacity-building workshops and peer mentoring can help close information gaps and equip diverse youth groups to engage confidently in governance.

The UK government has made ambitious long-term plans for these urban areas, and by implementing comprehensive, youth-centric approaches, cities can better reflect young peoples’ needs and aspirations, making urban development more just, resilient, and sustainable.

However, it's important to note that the planning system tends to favor existing homeowners who are more likely to object to an emerging development proposal or local plan. Those most in need of new housing are unlikely to receive a neighbor notification letter, making it difficult for them to be aware and offer support for a development.

Neighbor notification letters, local newspapers, and parish councils are unlikely to reach beyond existing local residents and garner support for a development. Technology offers an alternative and an opportunity for a broader reach, but the average Facebook user is now in their 30s, and it's unclear if social media has ever been used successfully to publicize a planning consultation.

In conclusion, the planning and development sector must address the lack of engagement among the young to improve the planning system. By putting youth-centric approaches into practice, cities can ensure that urban development reflects the needs and aspirations of all generations, creating more equitable, resilient, and sustainable cities.

[1] World Urban Campaign (2021). Youth in Urban Governance. Retrieved from https://www.worldurbancampaign.org/resources/youth-in-urban-governance

[2] ICLEI Europe (2020). Youth Engagement Checklist. Retrieved from https://www.iclei.org/files/Youth_Engagement_Checklist.pdf

[3] City of Baguio (2019). Co-designing Safer Streets with Youth. Retrieved from https://www.baguio.gov.ph/index.php/news/1078-co-designing-safer-streets-with-youth

[4] United Nations (2019). Sustainable Development Goals: Localizing the SDGs. Retrieved from https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/localizing-the-sdgs/

[5] World Urban Campaign (2021). Capacity Building for Youth Engagement in Urban Governance. Retrieved from https://www.worldurbancampaign.org/resources/capacity-building-for-youth-engagement-in-urban-governance

1. To foster personal growth, career development, and job search opportunities among younger demographics, urban planning initiatives should consider integrating skills training programs, such as those offered at youth innovation hubs, into housing and infrastructure plans.
2. Encouraging education-and-self-development ventures, including workshops and peer mentoring, can help equip diverse youth groups with the knowledge needed to actively engage in urban planning and governance, contributing to their overall development and the sustainability of cities.
3. Local governments could also partner with educational institutions for continuous feedback on housing and urban development projects, supporting the long-term career-development goals of students and ensuring that urban planning accurately reflects the needs and aspirations of younger generations.

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