Chris Ling - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chris Ling

Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention... more Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention in the effort to address our many serious environmental issues. This is hindered by the large-scale destruction of both urban neighbourhoods and rural villages in the second half of the twentieth century. Communities, whether they are small or large, hubs of experimentation or loci of traditional techniques and methods, can be said to have a level of community vitality that acts as a site of resilience, adaptation and innovation in the face of environmental challenges. This paper outlines how community vitality acts as a cornerstone of sustainable development and suggests some courses for future research. A meta-case analysis of thirty-five Canadian communities reveals the characteristics of community vitality emerging from sustainable development experiments and its relationship to resilience, applied specifically to community development.

Local Environment, 2018

Originating in the UK in 2006, the Transition movement is oriented to local grassroots citizen-le... more Originating in the UK in 2006, the Transition movement is oriented to local grassroots citizen-led efforts that prepare for and support a societal energy transition to a low-carbon future in response to climate change, peak oil, ecological degradation, and economic instability. Overlapping significantly with relocalization, degrowth/slow growth, local food, and related movements, and based on permaculture principles and a distributed network model, it embraces the opportunity to turn crisis into an opportunity to build more resilient, convivial, and vibrant local communities, declaring that "if it's not fun, it's not sustainable". The Transition approach has spread rapidly around the world, including initiatives in over 100 communities and cities in Canada. This paper reports on the methods and results of a Canadian community-based research study aimed at understanding how and where the movement has taken root across the country, what Transition practice looks like, challenges and opportunities encountered, and lessons learned that could be applied within the movement and by others interested in the role of citizen-led initiatives for sustainability transition. Utilising a practice theory lens, drawing on an extensive web-scan of the movement's online presence, a survey and interviews with initiative (co)founders, an e-survey of Transition members/participants, regional "structured story-dialogue" workshops, and key informant interviews, and informed by input from a Movement Advisory Group, we describe the research process and explore what success and impact mean to those most active in the movement.

Ethics, Place & Environment, 2008

The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives.... more The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives. However, little thought has been given to the role of physical spaces in the shaping of possible senses of place. This article examines three Canadian examples of community sustainable development initiatives to demonstrate that sense of place can be shaped and constrained by the geographical and environmental features of the physical space a community occupies. This finding suggests that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to community sustainable development is unlikely to be successful; a community's sustainable development ethic will be informed by geography. However, there is some evidence that a strong individual sense of place shaped by local space may act as a barrier to the acceptance of new people and ideas. Conversely, a strong sense of place can result in mobilization for sustainable development initiatives.

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference, Runcorn, UK, 13-16 May 2003, 2003

Post-industrial regeneration in the UK has been dominated by strategies to redevelop sites for in... more Post-industrial regeneration in the UK has been dominated by strategies to redevelop sites for industrial, commercial and housing end use; however mainstream strategies for the regeneration of derelict land have not made significant inroads into total stock. The strategy is limited in its potential to tackle the problem in those areas that have the greatest extent of dereliction and associated social problems. Moreover, it ignores the real potential for brownfield sites for biodiversity and nature conservation. This paper explores a holistic, multifunctional approach to regeneration. All landscapes are inherently multifunctional even though the regeneration of post-industrial landscapes does not take this into account and focuses on specific economic, social or environmental goals resulting in a non-optimised regeneration solution. Any methodology that aims to improve the sustainability of regeneration should be valid for the integration of processes operating at multiple spatial scales, and allow holistic approaches for all projects regardless of scale within the context of strategic regional planning. The concept of multifunctionality appears to answer some of the questions asked of regeneration. The concept uses a holistic approach and looks at the landscape not as a pattern of land uses but as a dynamic system providing a variety of functions that work together in a landscape in an integrated way.

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2014

The City of Colwood in British Columbia, Canada, has engaged in a wide-ranging project aiming to ... more The City of Colwood in British Columbia, Canada, has engaged in a wide-ranging project aiming to encourage whole community transformation, through the use of environmental education, incentives and the adoption of energy efficiency behavior and technologies. Researchers and students from Royal Roads University partnered with a Middle School to deliver an action research driven educational program to 120 Grade 7 (age 12/13) students that reflected goals of the City program: water conservation, solar hot water and the energy efficiency of homes. Students engaged in classroom activities and field trips to homes with energy upgrades installed. The students’ subject matter engagement was captured through systematic observation, field notes and photographs, and the development of knowledge was assessed through curriculum exercises and a quantitative survey. Both students and their parents were surveyed to see whether the interaction with the students had implications for intergenerational learning and the possibility of increasing wider community engagement in the program. It was found that while the students engaged in the classroom session did increase their awareness and understanding of energy efficiency, curriculum design needed to include more opportunities to discuss the issues at home to maximize the opportunities for intergenerational learning and an increase in awareness more generally.

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2013

Ethics, Place & Environment, 2008

The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives.... more The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives. However, little thought has been given to the role of physical spaces in the shaping of possible senses of place. This article examines three Canadian examples of community sustainable development initiatives to demonstrate that sense of place can be shaped and constrained by the geographical and environmental features of the physical space a community occupies. This finding suggests that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to community sustainable development is unlikely to be successful; a community's sustainable development ethic will be informed by geography. However, there is some evidence that a strong individual sense of place shaped by local space may act as a barrier to the acceptance of new people and ideas. Conversely, a strong sense of place can result in mobilization for sustainable development initiatives.

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Much of the research currently being done on the creative class (Florida, 2002), the presence of ... more Much of the research currently being done on the creative class (Florida, 2002), the presence of that class in communities and the conditions needed to attract it, is focused on mega-cities and urban areas well connected to the global economy and with the social and policy context in those communities. One neglected part of the equation, however, is the environmental and aesthetic components-they are mentioned in Florida's work but not analyzed at the scale typically considered difficult to judge. Evidence from Canadian case studies (Ling and Dale, 2011) suggest the quality of the landscape at a community scale may have a significant impact on the the attraction of the creative class to communities. This paper will explore this possible relationship by comparing communities considered 'attractive' and communities considered less so, and the presence of the creative class in these places.

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Urban centers serve as hubs of human innovation and as places where different ideas and cultures ... more Urban centers serve as hubs of human innovation and as places where different ideas and cultures come together. Third spaces, where the public meets outside of the workplace and the home, have been identified as particularly important to urban vitality. Though many such centres are long established, dynamic third spaces have emerged where reuse and regeneration of urban space has occurred. This paper explores three Canadian renewal projects that have been successful to various degrees at developing urban spaces with a diversity of activity. The paper explores the urban form involved, discussing the history of the spaces, approaches to barriers, the integration of the 'natural', and the role of public markets at each site. The sites are explored as loci of innovation and discussed in terms of the spatial capital they create.

Sustainability, 2010

Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention... more Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention in the effort to address our many serious environmental issues. This is hindered by the large-scale destruction of both urban neighbourhoods and rural villages in the second half of the twentieth century. Communities, whether they are small or large, hubs of experimentation or loci of traditional techniques and methods, can be said to have a level of community vitality that acts as a site of resilience, adaptation and innovation in the face of environmental challenges. This paper outlines how community vitality acts as a cornerstone of sustainable development and suggests some courses for future research. A meta-case analysis of thirty-five Canadian communities reveals the characteristics of community vitality emerging from sustainable development experiments and its relationship to resilience, applied specifically to community development.

Local Environment, 2009

' are cited in text but not provided in the reference list. Please add them to the reference list... more ' are cited in text but not provided in the reference list. Please add them to the reference list and provide full details of them. Q4 Please check if the sentence 'They will.. .rather than' is complete for its sense. Q5 Please provide in-text citation for the following references 'Bourdieu 1983', 'Granovetter 1973, 1985', and 'Reuf 2002'. Q6 Please provide volume number for the reference 'Briggs 2004'. Q7 Please provide complete details for the reference 'Dale and Sparkes, 2007'. Q8 Please check if the location details of the publishers added to the reference 'Hanna 2007' is ok. Q9 Please update the reference 'Newman and Dale (forthcoming)'.

Local Environment, 2011

One of the stated missions of many farmers' markets and their advocates is to bring consumers clo... more One of the stated missions of many farmers' markets and their advocates is to bring consumers closer to their producers, providing enhanced social capital between the two groups, increased loyalty to local food producers and increased economic opportunity to those producers. Most markets also imply an environmental benefit from shopping locally through a reduction in food miles and thus a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions and resource use. To better understand this claim, farm-to-market distances need to be available in a clear, understandable and accessible way. This paper introduces food webs, a graphical representation of the distance travelled and the regional catchment for producers of urban farmers' markets, as demonstrated in British Columbia, Canada. The food webs show farm locations in an easily accessible manner, the degree to which farmers' markets are serving local food producers and the nature of those producers. The results show a large variation in distance travelled to markets and suggest that a critical examination of what "local" means in the context of farmers' market is needed.

Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011

In the natural world, the transfer of resources between landscape features such as the corridors ... more In the natural world, the transfer of resources between landscape features such as the corridors and patches that make up the mosaic of ecological niches is increased where those boundaries are more complex. This article explores this as an analogue for the relationship between natural landscapes and human communities and the possible link between those landscapes greater human diversity and innovation. Using Canadian case study research this article explores the potential link between landscape and human creativity. The case studies are all examples of human communities with higher than average populations of the creative class and with noted landscapes that have influenced the nature and direction of development. We explore the possibility that there is a link between landscape and creativity and consider how this may reflect the potential for cultural diversity and thus the sustainable community development.

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2010

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential of online communication technologie... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential of online communication technologies to facilitate university-led transdisciplinary sustainable development research and lower the ecological footprints of such research projects. A series of case studies is to be explored. Design/methodology/approach-A one year project is conducted in which a series of research tasks are carried out on an online communications platform. Findings are compared to other examples from the literature. Findings-Online communication technology can be used to facilitate transdisciplinary research tasks, saving time, money and with less environmental impact than that of face-to-face meetings. However, in order for online collaboration to be successful the researchers must be very organized and have strong facilitation skills. Research limitations/implications-The research takes place in a North American setting. Time zone issues and access to sufficient internet technology can be a barrier in global research collaboration. Practical implications-Online communication technology can be a practical way to lower the environmental impact of the research process and lower the cost of collaborative meetings. Originality/value-The outcomes of this research suggest online collaboration can play a much larger role in student and faculty research, including but not limited to online research analysis, data collection and field exploration.

Environmental Management, 2009

This article describes a template for implementing an integrated community sustainability plan. T... more This article describes a template for implementing an integrated community sustainability plan. The template emphasizes community engagement and outlines the components of a basic framework for integrating ecological, social and economic dynamics into a community plan. The framework is a series of steps that support a sustainable community development process. While it reflects the Canadian experience, the tools and techniques have applied value for a range of environmental planning contexts around the world. The research is case study based and draws from a diverse range of communities representing many types of infrastructure, demographics and ecological and geographical contexts. A critical path for moving local governments to sustainable community development is the creation and implementation of integrated planning approaches. To be effective and to be implemented, a requisite shift to sustainability requires active community engagement processes, political will, and a commitment to political and administrative accountability, and measurement.

Community Development Journal, 2014

This research project explores the concept of 'agency' in the context of sustainable community de... more This research project explores the concept of 'agency' in the context of sustainable community development and the involvement of citizens in achieving social change and social innovation in their communities around community development issues. The concept of agency is normally understood as a noun-a team or structure of people performing specific tasks for a specific purpose Barber, 2001. However, according to Bhaskar (1994) it can also be a verb, describing an action or process that results in a new 'state of affairs'. This notion of agency can be held either by individuals or groups. Agency in this context, therefore, refers to an individual, an organization, networks or a community that can enact a process that drives change-either in the context of an individual who effects change within a community or a group that collectively does the same. It is our assumption that the presence or absence of agency is the key indicator of a group's ability to respond and identify cohesive solutions to sustainable development challenges (Newman and Dale, 2005).

Using the example of the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England, a notion of multifunctionalit... more Using the example of the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England, a notion of multifunctionality, and its potential to be utilized in post-industrial regeneration is explored. Multifunctionality is defined as an integration of different functions within the same or overlapping land unit, at the same or overlapping in time, and is a framework whereby a holistic view of a landscape

Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention... more Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention in the effort to address our many serious environmental issues. This is hindered by the large-scale destruction of both urban neighbourhoods and rural villages in the second half of the twentieth century. Communities, whether they are small or large, hubs of experimentation or loci of traditional techniques and methods, can be said to have a level of community vitality that acts as a site of resilience, adaptation and innovation in the face of environmental challenges. This paper outlines how community vitality acts as a cornerstone of sustainable development and suggests some courses for future research. A meta-case analysis of thirty-five Canadian communities reveals the characteristics of community vitality emerging from sustainable development experiments and its relationship to resilience, applied specifically to community development.

Local Environment, 2018

Originating in the UK in 2006, the Transition movement is oriented to local grassroots citizen-le... more Originating in the UK in 2006, the Transition movement is oriented to local grassroots citizen-led efforts that prepare for and support a societal energy transition to a low-carbon future in response to climate change, peak oil, ecological degradation, and economic instability. Overlapping significantly with relocalization, degrowth/slow growth, local food, and related movements, and based on permaculture principles and a distributed network model, it embraces the opportunity to turn crisis into an opportunity to build more resilient, convivial, and vibrant local communities, declaring that "if it's not fun, it's not sustainable". The Transition approach has spread rapidly around the world, including initiatives in over 100 communities and cities in Canada. This paper reports on the methods and results of a Canadian community-based research study aimed at understanding how and where the movement has taken root across the country, what Transition practice looks like, challenges and opportunities encountered, and lessons learned that could be applied within the movement and by others interested in the role of citizen-led initiatives for sustainability transition. Utilising a practice theory lens, drawing on an extensive web-scan of the movement's online presence, a survey and interviews with initiative (co)founders, an e-survey of Transition members/participants, regional "structured story-dialogue" workshops, and key informant interviews, and informed by input from a Movement Advisory Group, we describe the research process and explore what success and impact mean to those most active in the movement.

Ethics, Place & Environment, 2008

The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives.... more The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives. However, little thought has been given to the role of physical spaces in the shaping of possible senses of place. This article examines three Canadian examples of community sustainable development initiatives to demonstrate that sense of place can be shaped and constrained by the geographical and environmental features of the physical space a community occupies. This finding suggests that a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to community sustainable development is unlikely to be successful; a community's sustainable development ethic will be informed by geography. However, there is some evidence that a strong individual sense of place shaped by local space may act as a barrier to the acceptance of new people and ideas. Conversely, a strong sense of place can result in mobilization for sustainable development initiatives.

Proceedings of the 7th International Conference, Runcorn, UK, 13-16 May 2003, 2003

Post-industrial regeneration in the UK has been dominated by strategies to redevelop sites for in... more Post-industrial regeneration in the UK has been dominated by strategies to redevelop sites for industrial, commercial and housing end use; however mainstream strategies for the regeneration of derelict land have not made significant inroads into total stock. The strategy is limited in its potential to tackle the problem in those areas that have the greatest extent of dereliction and associated social problems. Moreover, it ignores the real potential for brownfield sites for biodiversity and nature conservation. This paper explores a holistic, multifunctional approach to regeneration. All landscapes are inherently multifunctional even though the regeneration of post-industrial landscapes does not take this into account and focuses on specific economic, social or environmental goals resulting in a non-optimised regeneration solution. Any methodology that aims to improve the sustainability of regeneration should be valid for the integration of processes operating at multiple spatial scales, and allow holistic approaches for all projects regardless of scale within the context of strategic regional planning. The concept of multifunctionality appears to answer some of the questions asked of regeneration. The concept uses a holistic approach and looks at the landscape not as a pattern of land uses but as a dynamic system providing a variety of functions that work together in a landscape in an integrated way.

Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2014

The City of Colwood in British Columbia, Canada, has engaged in a wide-ranging project aiming to ... more The City of Colwood in British Columbia, Canada, has engaged in a wide-ranging project aiming to encourage whole community transformation, through the use of environmental education, incentives and the adoption of energy efficiency behavior and technologies. Researchers and students from Royal Roads University partnered with a Middle School to deliver an action research driven educational program to 120 Grade 7 (age 12/13) students that reflected goals of the City program: water conservation, solar hot water and the energy efficiency of homes. Students engaged in classroom activities and field trips to homes with energy upgrades installed. The students’ subject matter engagement was captured through systematic observation, field notes and photographs, and the development of knowledge was assessed through curriculum exercises and a quantitative survey. Both students and their parents were surveyed to see whether the interaction with the students had implications for intergenerational learning and the possibility of increasing wider community engagement in the program. It was found that while the students engaged in the classroom session did increase their awareness and understanding of energy efficiency, curriculum design needed to include more opportunities to discuss the issues at home to maximize the opportunities for intergenerational learning and an increase in awareness more generally.

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2013

Ethics, Place & Environment, 2008

The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives.... more The creation of a sense of place has emerged as a goal of many community development initiatives. However, little thought has been given to the role of physical spaces in the shaping of possible senses of place. This article examines three Canadian examples of community sustainable development initiatives to demonstrate that sense of place can be shaped and constrained by the geographical and environmental features of the physical space a community occupies. This finding suggests that a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to community sustainable development is unlikely to be successful; a community's sustainable development ethic will be informed by geography. However, there is some evidence that a strong individual sense of place shaped by local space may act as a barrier to the acceptance of new people and ideas. Conversely, a strong sense of place can result in mobilization for sustainable development initiatives.

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Much of the research currently being done on the creative class (Florida, 2002), the presence of ... more Much of the research currently being done on the creative class (Florida, 2002), the presence of that class in communities and the conditions needed to attract it, is focused on mega-cities and urban areas well connected to the global economy and with the social and policy context in those communities. One neglected part of the equation, however, is the environmental and aesthetic components-they are mentioned in Florida's work but not analyzed at the scale typically considered difficult to judge. Evidence from Canadian case studies (Ling and Dale, 2011) suggest the quality of the landscape at a community scale may have a significant impact on the the attraction of the creative class to communities. This paper will explore this possible relationship by comparing communities considered 'attractive' and communities considered less so, and the presence of the creative class in these places.

Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies

Urban centers serve as hubs of human innovation and as places where different ideas and cultures ... more Urban centers serve as hubs of human innovation and as places where different ideas and cultures come together. Third spaces, where the public meets outside of the workplace and the home, have been identified as particularly important to urban vitality. Though many such centres are long established, dynamic third spaces have emerged where reuse and regeneration of urban space has occurred. This paper explores three Canadian renewal projects that have been successful to various degrees at developing urban spaces with a diversity of activity. The paper explores the urban form involved, discussing the history of the spaces, approaches to barriers, the integration of the 'natural', and the role of public markets at each site. The sites are explored as loci of innovation and discussed in terms of the spatial capital they create.

Sustainability, 2010

Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention... more Community level action towards sustainable development has emerged as a key scale of intervention in the effort to address our many serious environmental issues. This is hindered by the large-scale destruction of both urban neighbourhoods and rural villages in the second half of the twentieth century. Communities, whether they are small or large, hubs of experimentation or loci of traditional techniques and methods, can be said to have a level of community vitality that acts as a site of resilience, adaptation and innovation in the face of environmental challenges. This paper outlines how community vitality acts as a cornerstone of sustainable development and suggests some courses for future research. A meta-case analysis of thirty-five Canadian communities reveals the characteristics of community vitality emerging from sustainable development experiments and its relationship to resilience, applied specifically to community development.

Local Environment, 2009

' are cited in text but not provided in the reference list. Please add them to the reference list... more ' are cited in text but not provided in the reference list. Please add them to the reference list and provide full details of them. Q4 Please check if the sentence 'They will.. .rather than' is complete for its sense. Q5 Please provide in-text citation for the following references 'Bourdieu 1983', 'Granovetter 1973, 1985', and 'Reuf 2002'. Q6 Please provide volume number for the reference 'Briggs 2004'. Q7 Please provide complete details for the reference 'Dale and Sparkes, 2007'. Q8 Please check if the location details of the publishers added to the reference 'Hanna 2007' is ok. Q9 Please update the reference 'Newman and Dale (forthcoming)'.

Local Environment, 2011

One of the stated missions of many farmers' markets and their advocates is to bring consumers clo... more One of the stated missions of many farmers' markets and their advocates is to bring consumers closer to their producers, providing enhanced social capital between the two groups, increased loyalty to local food producers and increased economic opportunity to those producers. Most markets also imply an environmental benefit from shopping locally through a reduction in food miles and thus a corresponding reduction in carbon emissions and resource use. To better understand this claim, farm-to-market distances need to be available in a clear, understandable and accessible way. This paper introduces food webs, a graphical representation of the distance travelled and the regional catchment for producers of urban farmers' markets, as demonstrated in British Columbia, Canada. The food webs show farm locations in an easily accessible manner, the degree to which farmers' markets are serving local food producers and the nature of those producers. The results show a large variation in distance travelled to markets and suggest that a critical examination of what "local" means in the context of farmers' market is needed.

Landscape and Urban Planning, 2011

In the natural world, the transfer of resources between landscape features such as the corridors ... more In the natural world, the transfer of resources between landscape features such as the corridors and patches that make up the mosaic of ecological niches is increased where those boundaries are more complex. This article explores this as an analogue for the relationship between natural landscapes and human communities and the possible link between those landscapes greater human diversity and innovation. Using Canadian case study research this article explores the potential link between landscape and human creativity. The case studies are all examples of human communities with higher than average populations of the creative class and with noted landscapes that have influenced the nature and direction of development. We explore the possibility that there is a link between landscape and creativity and consider how this may reflect the potential for cultural diversity and thus the sustainable community development.

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 2010

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential of online communication technologie... more Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential of online communication technologies to facilitate university-led transdisciplinary sustainable development research and lower the ecological footprints of such research projects. A series of case studies is to be explored. Design/methodology/approach-A one year project is conducted in which a series of research tasks are carried out on an online communications platform. Findings are compared to other examples from the literature. Findings-Online communication technology can be used to facilitate transdisciplinary research tasks, saving time, money and with less environmental impact than that of face-to-face meetings. However, in order for online collaboration to be successful the researchers must be very organized and have strong facilitation skills. Research limitations/implications-The research takes place in a North American setting. Time zone issues and access to sufficient internet technology can be a barrier in global research collaboration. Practical implications-Online communication technology can be a practical way to lower the environmental impact of the research process and lower the cost of collaborative meetings. Originality/value-The outcomes of this research suggest online collaboration can play a much larger role in student and faculty research, including but not limited to online research analysis, data collection and field exploration.

Environmental Management, 2009

This article describes a template for implementing an integrated community sustainability plan. T... more This article describes a template for implementing an integrated community sustainability plan. The template emphasizes community engagement and outlines the components of a basic framework for integrating ecological, social and economic dynamics into a community plan. The framework is a series of steps that support a sustainable community development process. While it reflects the Canadian experience, the tools and techniques have applied value for a range of environmental planning contexts around the world. The research is case study based and draws from a diverse range of communities representing many types of infrastructure, demographics and ecological and geographical contexts. A critical path for moving local governments to sustainable community development is the creation and implementation of integrated planning approaches. To be effective and to be implemented, a requisite shift to sustainability requires active community engagement processes, political will, and a commitment to political and administrative accountability, and measurement.

Community Development Journal, 2014

This research project explores the concept of 'agency' in the context of sustainable community de... more This research project explores the concept of 'agency' in the context of sustainable community development and the involvement of citizens in achieving social change and social innovation in their communities around community development issues. The concept of agency is normally understood as a noun-a team or structure of people performing specific tasks for a specific purpose Barber, 2001. However, according to Bhaskar (1994) it can also be a verb, describing an action or process that results in a new 'state of affairs'. This notion of agency can be held either by individuals or groups. Agency in this context, therefore, refers to an individual, an organization, networks or a community that can enact a process that drives change-either in the context of an individual who effects change within a community or a group that collectively does the same. It is our assumption that the presence or absence of agency is the key indicator of a group's ability to respond and identify cohesive solutions to sustainable development challenges (Newman and Dale, 2005).

Using the example of the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England, a notion of multifunctionalit... more Using the example of the Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, England, a notion of multifunctionality, and its potential to be utilized in post-industrial regeneration is explored. Multifunctionality is defined as an integration of different functions within the same or overlapping land unit, at the same or overlapping in time, and is a framework whereby a holistic view of a landscape