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A participatory protocol
for ecologically informed
design within river
catchments
Joanne Tippett
Feburary 2004
A dissertation submitted to the University of Manchester for the Degree of
Ph.D. in Planning and Landscape
in the Faculty of Arts
Supervisors:
Professor John Handley
Joe Ravetz
School of Planning and Landscape
Jeff Hinchcliffe and Walter Menzies
Mersey Basin Campaign
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THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
ABSTRACT OF THESIS/DISSERTATION submitted by Joanne Tippett
for the Degree of Ph.D. and entitled: A participatory protocol for
ecologically informed design within river catchments
February 2004
The European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) offers an unparalleled
opportunity for improving river basin management, whilst moving towards a
sustainable future. Sustainable management of water requires integrated planning,
recognising the interconnections between systems operating at different levels of
scale. This is an endeavour in which systems thinking could provide useful tools.
Systems orientated models can enhance dialogue, facilitate work across scales and
sectors and increase focus on the ‘whole picture’.
This research examined the emerging role of active participation in 'planning for
sustainability' in the context of river catchments. The DesignWays process, a
participatory protocol for ecologically informed design, developed by the author,
was tested in the context of waterside regeneration in the Mersey Basin of
NorthWest England. The development of DesignWays was a conscious attempt to
embed ‘new paradigm’ living systems metaphors into a tool for design and
decision-making.
The research took an action-based interpretive approach, testing DesignWays at
the landscape and site levels of scale. Interviews were conducted with participants
before and after the process, providing data about changes in understanding. This
was supplemented by analysis of results of the DesignWays process, participant
observation, and peer observation. Challenges posed by the WFD for participatory
planning were identified to provide criteria for assessing this action research.
This research had two major outcomes: a contribution to theory through an indepth exploration of the theoretical basis of participatory, ecologically informed
design as exemplified by the DesignWays approach; and a contribution to practice
through an investigation into its potential as a means of meeting key challenges of
the WFD. This research points to the importance of seeing the use of toolkits for
participation as a societal process, aiming to make the process engaging and
meaningful for participants. It has shown that a process consistent with a living
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systems biology paradigm can contribute to the development of more integrated,
ecologically sound plans.
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Abbreviations and Conventions in Text
AEAM
ANT
EA
EIA
CBA
CC
CIS
CURE
DETR
FAO
GIS
GO-NW
HEI
ICLEI
ICM
ICT
ICZM
IPCC
IVP
IWRM
LA21
LEAP
MBC
MVRA
NEPA
NGO
NRA
OCN/MOC
N
RBMP
RBD
RVI
SEA
SMEs
SSSI
SUDS
SWIM
TVA
UN
USEPA
WBCSD
WFD
WWF
Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management
Actor Network Theory
Environment Agency (UK)
Environmental Impact Assessment
Cost Benefit Analysis
Countryside Commission (UK)
Common Implementation Strategy for the Water Framework Directive being developed
jointly by the Member States and the European Commission
Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology, the research centre in which the author is
based, in the School of Planning and Landscape, University of Manchester
Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Geographic Information Systems
Government Office North West
Higher Education Institute
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
Integrated Catchment Management
Information and Communications Technology
Integrated Coastal Zone Management
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive
Irk Valley Project
Integrated Water Resource Management
Local Agenda 21 (each local authority to develop sustainability plan, outcome of 1992
Rio de Janeiro ‘Earth Summit’)
Local Environment Agency Plan
Mersey Basin Campaign
Moston Vale Residents’ Association
National Environmental Policy Act (USA)
Non Governmental Organisation (Not-for-profit – USA usage)
National Rivers Authority (UK)
Open College Network/ Merseyside Open College Network
River Basin Management Plan (requirement of the WFD)
River Basin Districts (delineation of catchments in the WFD)
River Valley Initiative (local partnerships of Mersey Basin Campaign)
Strategic Environmental Assessment
Small to Medium Enterprises
Site of Special Scientific Interest (UK landscape designation)
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
Sustainable Water and Integrated Catchment Management (Unilever Project)
Tennessee Valley Authority
United Nations
United States Environmental Protection Agency
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
European Union Water Framework Directive
World Wide Fund for Nature (in USA World Wildlife Fund)
Numerical references in the text (e.g. 1.2.2) refer to paragraphs of the dissertation.
Citations from the literature are indicated with this font change.
Quotations from interviewees are indicated with this font change.
Case studies are denoted by this format.
Gender specific language in quotations has been left as is e.g. mankind, but effort
has been made to use gender- neutral and non-racist language in the author’s text.
Recognising that the issue of how to describe the countries of the world which
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have historically been called ‘less developed’ is fraught with difficulty, in this text
they are described as ‘less industrialised regions’ whilst the ‘developed world’ is
termed ‘industrialised’. This distinction also allows for the insight that there can
be pockets of poverty in industrialised regions and pockets of wealth and
advanced industrialisation in countries often considered as ‘undeveloped’.
Acknowledgements
The Economic and Social Research Council and the Mersey Basin Campaign
provided financial support for this research. Professor John Handley and Joe
Ravetz from the Centre for Urban and Regional Ecology in the University of
Manchester; Dave Barlow of the Irk Valley Project and Jeff Hinchcliffe, Amanda
Wright and Walter Menzies of the Mersey Basin Campaign have given invaluable
input into the research. Thanks to Zinnia Clark for assistance in the community
mapping during the action-based research in the Irk Valley. The comments of Liz
Turner, Buddy Williams and Matthew Tippett provided valuable guidance in
clarifying the structure and flow of the argument.
The Mersey Basin Campaign sponsored the research (through an E.S.R.C. CASE
award) and also made a donation towards the planning process. The Newlands
scheme for reclaiming derelict and under-used land (Forestry Commission)
supported this envisioning process as a trial of participatory methods, which is a
core principle of the Newlands scheme. Moston Vale is a key site for the project.
This project feeds into the ongoing creative consultation in North Manchester, and
was supported by North City Arts. The outcomes of the workshops have been
made available to the strategic planning process for North Manchester and to
groups working in partnership with the Irk Valley Project.
Corporate sponsors were Milliken Industrials Ltd., Avecia, British Vita,
Countryscape, HMG Paints and Holocene Design. Local businesses were invited
to attend the workshops and an extra workshop targeted at businesses was
arranged to allow for more business input into the process. Businesses were
invited through several networks, the MBC Business and Environment Awards
contacts, North Manchester Partnerships - Enterprise and economic initiatives,
Envirolink, Sustainability NorthWest and the Environmental business programme.
This workshop was held at HMG Paints, which has representation on the IVP
steering group and was 2003 winner of the MBC Business and Environment
Award for waterside regeneration.
Prof. Ian Douglas for his insightful review of the ICM chapter
Nuala Murphy
Angus Soutar
Michael Guerra
Anna Carr
Steve Martin
Aidan While
Joe Howe
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Participants on the workshop, time, enthusiasm and ideas
Perry Walker
Emma Griffiths
In particular Dave Barlow and Janette Bennett for taking the idea and running
with it
Matthew Wilkinson
Anonymous referee from JEMS clarified the flow of the argument
List of Figures
All photographs were taken by the author, or by Anne Kolodziejski (participant)
and used by permission, unless otherwise noted.
All diagrams were developed by the author, and drawn by Buddy Williams, unless
otherwise noted.
List of Tables
List of Case Study Boxes
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Appendixes
Draft
Appendix - Significant Conferences and Treaties in International Water Policy
Appendix - Overview of Participatory Methodologies with summary of
Organisations, Resources and Research
Appendix– Full List of Participats at Creative Futures – the Irk Valley workshops
Interview Guide – Before
Interview Guide – After
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