At the heart of stewardship is the desire to create communities that provide spaces, infrastructure and facilities as a lasting legacy which actively promote the well-being of residents and nature, empower people to have a say on how these are managed, and in turn create civic pride and communities that reap the benefits in perpetuity. The full use and long term management of parks, play areas and community centres is as fundamental as the new homes, electricity and roads to create attractive, liveable and successful developments. Effective planning for stewardship places the management and long-term funding of these community assets at the forefront of the design and planning application process, rather than as an afterthought.

The Town And Country Planning Association (TCPA) have recently published a toolkit on long-term stewardship, which we have advised on. This brings together Garden City principles, best practice, and shared learning to enable Councils, house builders, and their delivery partners to plan and deliver on long-term stewardship solutions.

When national policy referenced the ‘Garden City Principles’ in 2012, the issue of long-term stewardship then appeared in successive policies, legislation and guidance such as the ‘Green Infrastructure Framework (2023)’ the ‘Planning for the Future (2020),’ and ‘National Planning Policy Framework (2019)’. These and more are adding to the challenges and opportunities to manage community assets amidst emerging legal requirements for environmental management and sustainable ecological benefits.

Community Stewardship Solutions (CSS) is a brand operated by MP Consultancy Services Ltd (MPCS), headed by Mark Patchett. Mark has 30 years of personal and professional experience in engaging with residents and stakeholders to build enduring, successful community organisations and infrastructure. CSS will build on MPCS’ success by providing a more comprehensive solution to developers, local authorities and land owners alike.

From initial enquiry through to implementation, a number of monitoring procedures are in operation so that at any stage a client can receive feedback on process and qualitative matters to ensure the effective delivery of that which was laid out in any initial tender.