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principles of trust and ownership can still apply. This doesn’t have to be a free-for-all. Our accessibility standards and highway regulations are important. But there may just be scope to take a fresh perspective and lower barriers to encourage grassroots action. The British model could incorporate:
• Community greening zones for small- scale planting and depaving • Pre-approved interventions for neighbourhood groups • Temporary planting projects to trial new ideas • Small grants and practical support for local volunteers Start with the spaces we’ve forgotten Not every street is the right place for tile tipping. But our urban areas are full of overlooked places that are long overdue a bit of TLC. Rear alleyways and redundant highway land are examples of places that have been forgotten. Left unmanaged, they become magnets for litter and anti-social behaviour.
And what about those ostensibly green
areas that could do so much more? Housing estate greens, tree pits and piecemeal grass verges could work harder for people. These spaces are all ripe for a refresh, and exactly where communities with a little creativity could be unleashed. Given a little care and local ownership, these can all become valued community assets. Layer’s Chillizens project (pictured top
left) repurposed a redundant paved area at the end of a terrace into a pocket park with planting, seating and space to gather. This community-led project (in this case, the neighbouring primary school) could be replicated 100 times over by communities if there was a framework in place to do so. Through our engagement work,
communities consistently point to overlooked corners that everyone has learned to ignore. These are exactly the kinds of spaces where incremental, low- tech interventions can be most effective. Ownership changes behaviour Stewardship takes hold when people feel they have a genuine stake in a place.
Small interventions matter because they change relationships. A reclaimed corner won’t transform an entire neighbourhood overnight, but it can change how people feel about it. Once communities invest in their place, they’re more likely to care for it, protect it and encourage others to do the same. That’s why the debate around tile tipping is much bigger than a question over whether or not to remove paving slabs. It’s about whether we see communities as passive users of public space or active partners in shaping it. Britain may never embrace tile tipping as wholeheartedly as the Dutch have, and in some ways it probably shouldn’t. But not every intervention in the public realm requires the same level of scrutiny. If we can distinguish between major infrastructure projects and simple community improvements, we can give communities a greater role. In doing so, we could unlock greener streets, stronger neighbourhoods and a lasting culture of stewardship.
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