Communities

mksm covers an area of some 4,850 square kilometres and is already home to 1.65 million people. Many strong communities already exist here, demonstrating pride and community involvement. Being a diverse area, there are also pockets of deficiency, where more effort can be targeted to build stronger communities.

Economic changes for the sub-region mean that many places are being reshaped. As traditional industries throughout the area decline or move away, the local population and businesses need to adapt and this requires strong communities. Key requirements can be wide-ranging – for example, in terms of skills, access, and community safety.

Communities need to weather these changes for long-term prosperity and maintaining cohesive communities relies on opportunities being readily available. Job creation, access to work, education and skills-training, access to transport, high-quality design and public services are all key aspects.

At a more local level, as development takes place throughout mksm, the context of these communities will change, and new communities will begin to flourish. Ensuring the best quality design – at macro and micro levels – will mean that new and existing communities are well-integrated and fully functioning.

Collectively, we want to ensure that thriving new and revitalised communities are the end product of mksm’s long-term growth. To achieve this, investment in these communities will be essential.