Towards an urban commons

‘Disused’, ‘derelict’ or ‘abandoned’ places represent sites of social exclusion within the urban environment, and are prevalent in areas of multiple deprivation such as Stoke-on-Trent. Access to this land is restricted by the owners (typically under-funded local authorities or large businesses practicing ‘land-banking’).  Though an increasing number of community projects focus on their constructive use, academics have been slow to investigate this social value, preferring instead to focus on their significant environmental and ecological diversity. This project brought community projects from across the North West together on 20th April 2020 – albeit only in a virtual manner – in order to discuss how the social value of these sites could be expressed, communicated, and improved for young people. By supporting communities to access dormant brownfield land we are tackling both environmental inequalities and challenging democratic systems that prioritise private over public land use.

Despite the undeniable challenges that the event brought to light, the resulting Urban Commons Charter represents an important first step in research that has the potential to shift attitudes and perspectives to Brownfield sites as places of social, as well as environmental importance.

• Keele Academic Lead: Dr Ben Anderson
• Methods used: Online networking event inviting academics, artists, community organisations and activists to workshop the provocation of an Urban Commons Charter.
• Lead partner: Urban Wilderness