Places are not static spaces. They are continuously purposed and repurposed by the policies that govern them and the people that use them. In recent times, we have seen, and we continue to see disagreements over contested spaces – spaces which have different meanings for policy makers and for inhabitants.

Take the example of the Marsascala Bay Marina plans, which effectively aimed to repurpose and reimage Marsascala. The inhabitants of the place imagined otherwise for their seaside town. The residents and various groups (including local organisations) joined forces to show their disgruntlement with the proposed plans by the policy makers. The papers are continuously reporting stories of such contestations. The story of the Msida Creek flyover plans is another in a series of stories, where we see very different ideas and purposes being put forward by policy makers and civil society organisations. These disagreements arise despite the rollout of consultations by policy makers, which collect feedback from civil society and the wider public.

Consultation is a very valuable processes which aims to reach out to the public as a sounding board, not least because they provide a space for the practice of a dialogical democracy, but alas, at times they invariably end up defending plans and designs rather than actually considering them. This is because there is already a lot of investment, and a lot of interest, in what is being proposed - a specific project (and therefore an aim, an objective and a plan of action). The consultation thus happens at a point when it is too late to speak about the purpose the place is meant to meet, at a time when it is too late to speak about ideas and possibilities for the space. This type of communication makes it difficult for people to be part of the process to reimagine and repurpose the place they live in, commute through or work at, based on the various needs of the different communities it is meant to serve.

An alternative way of involving the public and civil society in the design and planning of our towns, villages and their public spaces is through the process of Placemaking. More than an approach to the planning, design, and management of public spaces, Placemaking is a process which focuses on creating dynamic, engaging and welcoming places that serve the needs and desires of the community.

Jen Heal, Deputy Chief Executive of the Design Commission for Wales, argues that a major innovation about this process is that it is grounded in a coordinated approach that seeks to put ‘the place before the discipline and breaking down silos’. In this way of working, planning, design and management do not remain the exclusive remit of the policy makers, or the architects, but of a wider process with stakeholders: public participation and collaborative leadership become central features in the placemaking process, making it possible to build, and work towards, a collective imagination for the place. Very importantly, Placemaking is a process that allows time and allocates resources to try out different ideas to be considered before a final viable decision is made. Integrating Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) into Placemaking processes ensures that the social dimensions of public space development are thoroughly considered and addressed.

An agenda for Placemaking is to be backed up with an adequate strategy for Placemaking governance: structures, processes, and practices through which public spaces are managed, maintained, and enhanced in ways that promote community engagement, sustainability, and inclusivity. It involves collaboration between various stakeholders, amongst which government agencies, local councils, community organisations, private enterprises, and residents. By incorporating SIAs, placemaking governance can ensure that projects are socially sustainable, fostering inclusive, vibrant, and resilient communities.

The spirit of the Placemaking approach is captured by Jane Jacobs, urbanist and activist, who argues that "Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody." The towns and villages dotting the landscape in Malta and Gozo may not be big cities like New York and Toronto, the cities which Jacobs lived in, and yet, it is increasingly evident that it is everybody’s business to partake in the process of their dynamic transformation into relevant and sustainable places for the current and future communities who live in them, commute through them, and work in them.

Maria C. Borg is a doctoral student in Sociology at the University of Malta and Secretary of the Malta Sociological Association.