Culture and Sport Planning Toolkit gets HCA recognition

The Living Places Culture and Sport Planning Toolkit has received recognition from Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) as a best practice product for place making.

The toolkit got the stamp of approval from the HCA Place Making Recognition Scheme, which recognised it as serving an important role in developing a wider understanding of culture and sport in the place-making process.

The HCA noted that the toolkit goes further than simply being a source of information and case studies and in considering place making process issues also serves to develop generic skills amongst its users.

Chair of Living Places, Roy Clare said: “This recognition from the HCA is highly regarded. Living Places partners are committed to the ongoing development of the toolkit and anything to help it get it noticed as a valuable resource to support planners and developers is a noteworthy thing. The toolkit is a practical source of information to improve people's understanding of place-making and encourage community partners for culture and sport to work together to create vibrant places for people to enjoy living in, working in and visiting.”

Lead chief executive of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire’s Quality Places Delivery Panel, Simon Eden, said: “The toolkit has played an important role in helping South Hampshire integrate work on place-making with our aspirations for economic growth across our area. Its endorsement by HCA will, I hope, encourage others to ensure culture and sport is at the heart of their place.”

The HCA Place Making Recognition Scheme creates a high-profile list of recognised learning programmes, resources and best practice for organisations to demonstrate the quality of their products and their contribution to place making skills and knowledge.