Nick Wates - Author, Practitioner, Teacher

A PublicForum Book Talk - Thursday, 11 June 2009, 11:00 Eastern/15:00 GMT (60 minutes)

Free. A Circle Club members-only event.*

This interview with noted community involvement author, practitioner and teacher Nick Wates will feature a discussion of his latest book, The Community Planning Event Manual: How to Use Collaborative Planning and Urban Design Events to Improve Your Environment (Earthscan, 2008).

We'll discuss Nick's hands-on, step-by-step approach to collaborative planning, from small neighborhood improvements to major infrastructure and construction projects. Come prepared for a lively discussion about the intersection between strategy and events—leave with practical tips to use in your own work! A question and answer session will follow the interview.

Nick is also the author of the acclaimed book, The Community Planning Handbook: How People Can Shape Their Cities, Towns and Villages in Any Part of the World (Earthscan, 2000).

About the book:

The Community Planning Event Manual: How to Use Collaborative Planning and Urban Design Events to Improve Your Environment (Earthscan, 2008).

Foreword by HRH The Prince of Wales. Introduction by John Thompson, Chairman, John Thompson & Partners, and Chairman, The Academy of Urbanism. (Preview cover and table of contents.)

Nick Wates is a leading authority on community involvement in planning and architecture. As an author, practitioner and teacher, he has participated in and chronicled its development for over 30 years. He is site editor of The Community Planning Website (communityplanning.net), which is based on his popular Community Planning Handbook (Earthscan, 2000). His previous books include Community Architecture, with Charles Knevitt (1987). Nick first experienced a Community Planning Event in 1985 and since then has played a role in many more—as journalist, observer, coordinator, facilitator, team member, support staff and consultant. He is director of Nick Wates Associates.

What others are saying about Nick's book:

"This is the kind of book the busy practitioners of today need to support them in their work."Professor Peter Roberts, chairman of ASC, the Academy for Sustainable Communities

"Just as planning decisions should be tailored to suit the needs of the community so too should the processes that achieve those decisions. This book advocates just that in a manner that is accessible to both community groups and planning offices. The sections on financial planning, event timescale and the final chapter, Follow Up, are particularly constructive."Dr Katharine Martindale, Director of Cities Research Alliance

"Nick Wates is a trail blazer in communicating clear, concise and immediately useful tools and techniques that transmit energy and make you want to get stuck in. This publication is amongst a handful of documents that all urban practitioners should have to hand."Ian Munt, international urban governance consultant

"Some books help you to learn—this one helps you to deliver! An invaluable tool." Professor Brian Evans, deputy chair, Architecture+Design Scotland and Partner, Gillespies LLP

"The devil is as always in the detail, and Nick Wates' Community Planning Event Manual provides it."Perry Walker, head, democracy and decision-making, New Economics Foundation

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