A city-scale co-creation project using deliberative democracy to deliver public space improvements in East London's most diverse borough.

Newham is a London borough with a diverse population of 350,000 people. It is a place which supports creativity, attracts artists and cultural businesses, and has a long history of making. Community creativity is at the heart of an ambitious programme of work to make Newham an even better place to live, work and create in years to come.

Shape Newham is a community and artist-led initiative which provides site-specific physical interventions - such as murals, street furniture, pocket parks and art pieces - to enhance local surroundings and shape Newham's places, boost involvement in Newham's decision making and support neighbour-to-neighbour collaboration.

“Newham is a great place to live and we want to make it better – people are at the heart of everything we do”

Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham

So far, this initiative has developed 18 public-space projects across eight town-centre locations in Newham. The project has been supported by a £1.5m investment from Newham Council and is being delivered by Newham Regeneration working with Community Officers and local Councillors through a consultant team formed and led by AOC, including Carver Haggard, Office S&M, Europa, Social Broadcasts and Local Works Studio.

Shape Newham has three ambitions:

• Getting residents talking to each other and discussing local issues, sharing ideas and celebrating local resources.
• Involving residents in council decision-making and improving the transparency of the process.
• Getting residents to shape places by collaborating with designers to co-develop projects in a joint decision-making process.

This community-led local development project is based upon deliberative democracy. Project priorities, locations and outcomes were co-designed with local residents through 30 events, including assemblies, radio workshops and local working groups.

In 2019, local communities were invited to Citizens' Assemblies to determine the priorities and locations for projects in Beckton, East Ham, Forest Gate, Green Street, Little Ilford, Manor Park, Maryland and Plaistow. Groups of residents then formed Design Committees at the start of 2020, to work with the council, architects and local artists to develop project ideas further.

The process helped create social value and foster trust for future change, building support in a positive, transparent and empowering environment. Over 40% of artists involved are local residents. The project uses local suppliers and contractors wherever possible. The public art improvements create attractive places for residents and support the local high street.

Invited competition on Mayor of London's Architecture Design + Urban Framework. First Prize. Realised.