mysql_connect Skape online planning tool to support government's localism agenda

Skape online planning tool to support government's localism agenda

27 July 2010

Cost-effective online planning tool launched to support government's localism agenda

Skape, a 3D city mapping online service provided by Astrium Services subsidiary Infoterra, is today launching a 3D flythrough proposals service to ensure that the ‘localism’ planning agenda proposed by the new government is achievable. 

Skape undertook a survey which has highlighted that more than 76 per cent of the public struggle to interpret and understand architect’s plans.  Following a survey of more than 3000 residents in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Leicester, an overwhelming 90 per cent felt the Government’s plan to give people more power over local planning decisions was the right move. However, 63 per cent were concerned about how developers would help them to properly understand the implications of the proposals and many believed that due to their lack of understanding, the ‘localism’ planning agenda would fail.

 

“Following the Government’s announcement that it plans to introduce a Decentralisation and Localism Bill giving local communities more power in planning decisions, we conducted research in to residents’ understanding of the processes involved. 

We found that a staggering number struggled to grasp the process.  So, using our knowledge and expertise we’ve developed the new 3D flythrough proposal service, this allows residents to truly see what the proposed development will look like and how it will integrate with the local area.  These may be viewed online or within the local authority offices for example. This is a speedy and cost-effective process which will ensure that developers and architect’s have the tools needed to ensure that resident’s can view the proposals within the local setting.

Never before has this technology been available and it means that there is no excuse for not fully engaging with the local community, using everything from 3D images on screens and plans to hologramatic models.  In fact, forward thinking councils, such as Sheffield, are already starting to demand this level of detail for pre application public consultations.”
Paul Fearn, Business manager at Skape

 

Skape has been trialled by Bournemouth Borough Council’s planning department to scope out a potential new regeneration project, allowing stakeholders to have a more realistic visual concept than would have been possible previously, in the form of a flythrough of Bournemouth centre and 16 development sites.