The challenge of delivering inclusive, affordable, and sustainable housing is one shared by communities across the world. While the contexts may vary, the question at the heart of the issue remains the same: Who gets to decide what our places become?
In this article, Dr Patrick Collins of the Institute of Place Management draws on original research in rural Ireland to explore how power, participation, and planning intersect and what happens when communities are given the tools to shape their own futures. Based on the case of the Maigh Cuilinn Village Plan, the piece highlights one of the largest public consultations ever conducted in rural Ireland, and offers important lessons for anyone interested in democratising decision-making around housing and development.
The full academic paper was published in Journal of Place Management and Development, and is published here by the Institute of Place Management as part of our ongoing commitment to exploring the causes and consequences of place inequalities. It contributes to our broader work aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and reflects our belief that meaningful place leadership must always start with meaningful participation.