What Is the Regenerative Neighbourhood Compass?​

​

The Compass is a cutting-edge tool designed to evaluate neighbourhoods, identify opportunities for growth, and guide transformational strategies. By combining Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) thinking with the Regenerative Neighbourhood Principles (RNP), the Compass offers a holistic framework for understanding and enhancing neighbourhood ecosystems.

​

Grounded in rigorous methodologies and practical implementation, this tool empowers municipalities, governments, and organisations to unlock the full potential of their communities. As a single, actionable tool for assessing and transforming neighbourhoods, it is unique in the world of local economic and community development.

​

Why Choose the Compass?

​

• Actionable Insights: The Compass uses quantitative metrics (e.g., employment rates, green space access, and connectivity) and qualitative insights (e.g., cultural vitality and community cohesion) to create a Regenerative Capacity Index. This index places the neighbourhood within one of four vector zones: Fragmenting, Emerging, Regenerating or Synthesising, based on its current level of vitality and synchronicity. These zones guide targeted strategies to address challenges and unlock systemic potential.
   

• Evidence-Based Solutions: The Compass integrates dynamic systems thinking to account for neighbourhood complexity, emphasising the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social systems. Supported by CAS theory, which highlights how adaptive systems evolve, this approach ensures resilience and adaptability are central to planning.
   

• ​Human-Centred Design: The Regenerative Neighbourhood Principles (RNP) promote social legitimacy, circular value flows, local context, and trust-building. These principles ensure the Compass delivers meaningful, place-sensitive interventions that evolve with the people and cultures embedded in each neighbourhood

What Makes the Compass Unique?

• Systems Thinking in Action: The Compass views neighbourhoods as living systems, evaluating both visible infrastructure and invisible dynamics, such as relationships, trust and alignment. 
   

• First Principles Approach: The 10 Regenerative Neighbourhood Principles we've created, serve as axioms that act as preconditions for a thriving, regenerative system. They go beyond technical fixes to reframe how change happens across governance, equity, adaptability, and scale.

​

• Efficient and Reliable: The tool uses readily available data (e.g., local government statistics, environmental reports) combined with stakeholder insights to deliver actionable results efficiently and accurately.
   

 The Benefits of the Compass Approach

• Pinpoint Risks and Opportunities: Identify whether your neighbourhood is at risk of gentrification, stagnation, degradation, or ossification, and take targeted action.
   

• Maximise Resource Allocation: Ensure public investments and initiatives are focused where they will have the most significant impact.
   

• Enhance Stakeholder Engagement: Build trust and foster collaboration by involving residents, leaders, and businesses in the scoring and planning process.
   

• Track Progress Over Time: Use the Regenerative Capacity Index to determine the vector in which the neighbourhood is moving and then monitor improvements, ensuring measurable outcomes.