Citizens` plan - a lever for local development

A Citizens’ Plan or a Village Plan is a plan made up by the citizens of a

community, expressing wishes, visions, aims and suggestions for action with

regard to the future of their town or local area. The plan is a tool which can be

used to ”assemble” the citizens and give them inspiration as well as for

fundraising, profiling and marketing of the town – and to influence key

decision makers. 

When creating a Citizens’ Plan, we touch on questions like the following:

• How do we make our village a better place to live?
• How do we secure our village for the future?
• What should we do to maintain and develop the level of service in the area?
• How do we make the best use of Nature?  

Regional situation
Proximity to motorway, main road, railway,

bigger town, places of work, larger nature areas, sea, fjord etc. 

Local splendour value
Amount and quality of local nature areas, quality of cultural environment and

village environment, etc.

Population’s resources (individual level)
Degree of commitment, optimism, drive, energy, level of knowledge, make-up

of population, age, family types and level of education.

Community life (ability to cooperate, community spirit)
Number and kind of activities, associations, common meetings and level of

organisation.

Public and private service level
Number and type, e.g. school, sports centre, kindergarten, basic commodities

shop, post office, library, assembly hall.

Local infrastructure
Local accessibility, road safety, collective transport connections, conditions for

vulnerable road users, IT infrastructure, heating, water and electricity supply,

waste water treatment/sewers.

Buildings and facades
The maintenance level of buildings, facades and frontal areas, the number of

empty houses, the number of houses for sale, house prices.

The Tool: ”The Village Wheel"
The basis for working with a Citizens’ Plan is “The Village Wheel” – a model

that may help shed a light on what village life and rural development are

about.

An analysis is made, an assessment and a development plan for each theme in

”The Village Wheel”.

Should we choose a Citizens’ Plan?
There are many good arguments why a village should choose to invest in a

citizens’ plan. Our experience shows that a citizens’ plan may contribute to

the following:

”Internal” aims

• How do we make our village a better place to live?
• Common identity
• Clarity regarding common aims and values
• Collaboration and a sense af community
• Drive and spirit: Let’s get started

   

”External”aims

• How do we make our village a better place to live?
• Influence politicians and other key decision makers
• Marketing tool – i.e. possible newcomers and tourists
• Basis for fundraising etc.

   

The product
The plan consists of a comprehensive and thoroughly illustrated report of app.

30 pages including maps and 3D drafts of ”the village in 40 years”. Futhermore

the plan contains a resource profile which stems from a thorough analysis of

the strengths and weaknesses of the area.

The process
The process toward a Citizens’ Plan is very important. For Grobund it is

crucial that the plan becomes the possession of the citizens themselves and

that it creates drive, initiative, engagement and community spirit within the

village. In our experience the process involved in the making of a Citizens’

plan has the effect of a shot in the arm on the local community.

Please contact Grobund for more information.

Example of a chain of events while creating a Citizens’ Plan: