Community infrastructure is the facilities which help make places work better. It's what communities need to thrive. It enables people to meet, learn, be healthy, access information, get help and move around the places in which they live and work.
It’s what makes communities special. It's why people want to live in the Hoo Peninsula. It’s the places where local people come together, the cultural events and activities that people enjoy, the sports provision that enables local people to be active and enjoy life.
Community infrastructure should not just include the community facilities defined in planning. It should reflect the history of Hoo, its landscape, clubs, pubs and open spaces.
Why we need a community infrastructure plan
We have commissioned PRD, Augarde & Partners and Urban Silence to undertake a study to consider all aspects of community life and services for the residents, businesses and local groups on the Peninsula, as well as the current and future needs of the population.
A new community infrastructure plan to improve services for residents across the Peninsula will be created. Focusing on community, culture and leisure infrastructure, the new plan will provide a clear outline of where investments in the community are needed. The plan will also show how these can be delivered to address and support the physical, economic and social transformation of the area.
This will ultimately inform the new Local Plan, as well as future resource allocations for the area.
We cannot create a community infrastructure framework without listening to local people living, working and studying on the Hoo Peninsula.
To do this, we’re creating a community panel to work with the project team to co-design the infrastructure framework. This could include sharing what existing community facilities make the Hoo Peninsula special and identifying priorities for the future.
What co-design is
Co-design is a process that shares knowledge and power with local people, enabling them to work with the project team and inform recommendations for the future.
For this project, the community panel with be co-designing the community infrastructure framework with the team. This will mean the voice of local people is at the heart of plans for the future.
Getting involved
We’re looking for around 50 people to join the community panel, that reflect the demographics of the people living on the Hoo Peninsula.
You’ll be asked to attend 4 workshop sessions (each lasting about 3 hours), and in exchange you’ll receive a high street shopping voucher for each session. Sessions will take place in person at a local community venue, at the time that works best for the group.
If we have more than 50 applications, we will use a selection process to invite 50 people to take part in the workshops. Your application will be anonymised during the selection process and a random sample will be selected on the basis of Hoo’s demographic profile.
We’ll let you know the result of your application by Monday 4 March 2024 and the first workshop will take place during the week of 11 March 2024.
If you’re not selected, we’ll ask if you would like a place on the waiting list and we’ll invite you to other engagement events and activities.