As a planner, I’m always focused on the future. I don’t just plan for today’s needs but strive to anticipate future requirements. It’s a challenging task, and while I can’t predict the national lottery numbers, we must do our best to make informed decisions for future generations.
In preparing Local Plans, I’ve noticed that the same demographic often engages with us—typically those over 50, homeowners with concerns about potential losses from planning decisions, especially regarding land development near their homes.
As planners, tasked with making decisions affecting places 10, 15, or even 20 years from now, it’s surprising how seldom we hear from young people who will be directly impacted by these decisions. We must consider why this is. Is it because our discussions are too complex or abstract for young people? Or do they feel that planning is too intangible, causing them to believe their views are undervalued? Are they disenfranchised from a process where they don’t see the potential for real change?
It shouldn’t be this way. Perhaps for too long, young people have not had the chance or the voice to make their opinions heard. We must ensure that when planning for the future and making decisions about new housing locations, designs, needed infrastructure, and job opportunities, young people have just as much right to express their views as anyone else.
As we prepare the new Local Plan, we want to give young people a platform to have their say and positively contribute to the plan’s creation and the critical decisions involved. This is your chance to help shape the future of this district, and we want to support you in making your voice heard.
We look forward to engaging with young people throughout the process, starting now in these early stages of plan preparation. By doing so, we aim to address the hopes, ambitions, concerns, and fears of young people in the new plan, ensuring its content reflects the views of our entire community—both young and old.
Upcoming Events:
- Lancaster Innovation Centre: Saturday, May 17, 2025, 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
- Lancaster and Morecambe College: Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM
- The Story, Lancaster City Centre: Future Vision Workshop, Saturday, June 28th, 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Register here for the upcoming Walkshops! Please confirm what events you are coming by emailing us to:
m.calvo@lancaster.ac.uk
or
planningpolicy@lancaster.gov.uk
Visit our website for more details
Want to know more about the Local Plan process?
Check out our interactive storyboard: https://arcg.is/Pzv0n
#Placemaking #PlacemakingWithYoungAdults #CoDesign #WALKshops2025 #LancasterRising
Author: Principal Planning Officer LCC testimonial
Mirian Calvo