Abram, Wigan – Neighbourhood Planning with Five Villages

PLACED worked with Abram Neighbourhood Forum to support development of its Communities Together Neighbourhood Plan 2018.

Abram Neighbourhood Forum is a group of residents and stakeholders living in the Abram ward of Wigan. The Forum includes people from all five villages in the ward.

The Forum has been developing its Neighbourhood Plan for several years. The plan covers economic development, housing and open spaces.

The area has real potential, with buildings and green spaces that could be used to make better places. The Forum has also recently secured Power for Change funding to help grow community businesses.

Abram Neighbourhood Forum commissioned us to:

Engage local people in the emerging Neighbourhood Plan
Raise awareness of the process and how to get involved
Understand local people’s views and aspirations around green spaces, the local economy, business hubs and housing

“The evidence will make a big difference going forward and it’s a big step for us in our journey to get the Neighbourhood Plan ready for referendum and raising awareness.”

David Baxter - Abram Ward Community Cooperative

We delivered five public events, one in each of the five villages in Abram. We used Ed the Campervan to pop-up in popular local places. We engaged over 130 people, using Neighbourhood Plan themes to start conversations and capture views. Our tools included visual activity boards, images and maps of the area.

People talked to us about the kind of homes they want to see in Abram, community cafés, local shops, play spaces and green gyms. People shared ideas to boost the local economy and local skills.

Our findings and recommendations are helping Abram Neighbourhood Forum to finalise its Communities Together Neighbourhood Plan for 2018.