Category Archives: Research

My whole career passed before me

By Chrissie | Published: November 4, 2011
I have been going through my Contacts List. There were so many contacts that Outlook was taking a long time to load. So, I put the radio or a podcast on and settled down. It has been a fascinating process. I have found contacts from projects all over the world – some successful, some less [...]
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Mike joins Connectivity Associates

By Chrissie | Published: October 28, 2011
Mike Gibson is now a director and co-owner of Connectivity Associates Ltd. Mike’s move brings together his extensive experience in private sector town planning consultancy with Chrissie’s expertise in training, applied research and community involvement. Connectivity Associates, based in South Manchester, has a growing number of national and international clients. The company has carried out [...]
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Neighbourhood Planning

By Chrissie | Published: September 22, 2011
Connectivity and Mind the Gap Research and Training are meeting today to discuss Neighbourhood Planning and to explore the synergies we could bring to local groups, developers and Local authorities.
Also posted in Communication Skills, Community Engagement, Planning | Leave a comment

Why are meetings unproductive?

By Chrissie | Published: September 5, 2011
The season of ‘meetings and mellow fruitfulness’ in upon us. Now that many people are back from holidays there are lots of emails flying around trying to arrange meetings. Are your meetings as productive as they might be? My research aims to get to the root causes of the problem. Please go to Productive Meetings [...]
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Changes to change of use?

By Chrissie | Published: June 24, 2011
Mike was a representative of the British Chambers of Commerce at a round-table discussion with the Department of Communities and Local Government on a proposed review of the change of use regime in the planning system, part of the Government’s ‘Plan for Growth’ agenda with the aim of helping business by removing ‘unnecessary burdens’. The [...]
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Foundation for Peace

By Chrissie | Published: April 5, 2011
Chrissie is very pleased to be working with the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation for Peace in Warrington.
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Royal Town Planning Institute Dinner

By Chrissie | Published: March 25, 2011
I had an excellent conversation yesterday evening with Richard Summers, the President of the Royal Town Planning Institute. He is a real champion for planners in these challenging times.
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Community engagement and the Big Society

By Chrissie | Published: February 14, 2011
Today I found a comment by Sherry Arnstein in 1969 “Community control … can turn out to be a new Mickey Mouse game for the have-nots by allowing them to gain control but not allowing them sufficient resources to succeed.” Have we learned that real community engagement needs resources?
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Neighbourhood Development Plans

By Chrissie | Published: February 7, 2011
Latest information on neighbourhood planning – useful summary Neighbourhood Planning
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Centre for Local Economic Strategies

By Chrissie | Published: January 26, 2011
Attended an excellent event at CLES yesterday evening. They have joined with New Start magazine and offer both the magazine and a wealth of on-line resources. Looking forward to working more closely with them.
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