Planning Democracy
Planning Democracy is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) established in 2009. As a community-led organisation, it aims to strengthen the public's voice and influence in planning and developing land in Scotland. In collaboration with Planning Democracy, I created two impactful campaign films to raise awareness around planning issues. The projects involved extensive on-location filming in local communities, capturing interviews and testimonials to highlight important environmental and housing development issues in Glasgow.
”We really enjoyed working with Georgios. He is very professional, flexible, and understanding, and he is able to translate complex subject matter into a clear and powerful film. I really appreciated his ability to 'see behind' the story and draw out the issues. He is also great fun to work with.”
Claire Symonds - Chair of Planning Democracy
NPF4
The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is a comprehensive, long-term strategic planning document for Scotland that guides national development priorities and land use planning. It outlines policies and proposals for shaping the future of Scotland's development across key areas such as housing, transport, energy, infrastructure, and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage.
In partnership with Planning Democracy, I made a short film explaining what NPF4 is and how it can affect people's lives, to encourage Scottish citizens to approach their MSPs and share their concerns before the bill is voted on.
The project involved organising and filming a focus group with a local community, allowing people to share their perspectives on camera. It also included interviewing members of Planning Democracy to discuss NPF4 and its potential impact.
The film made a significant impact on local communities and reached members of the Scottish Parliament. It was also appreciated by professionals as part of their Learning and Development programmes. Public Health Scotland's Learning and Development Officer used the film within their Workforce Development team, which was working on developing a learning resource called ‘Breaking Barriers to Reduce Inequalities’.
Her testimonial on the film was:
"We found your video very interesting and particularly useful as an example to highlight how advocacy can strengthen community voices, enable decision-making, and improve people’s life outcomes."
Fight for Environmental Democracy
For this project, I collaborated closely with Clare Symonds, the chair of Planning Democracy, to visit several communities in Glasgow. We documented instances of housing development encroaching on the green belt and highlighted the efforts of local residents to preserve these green spaces. Our focus was on ensuring sustainable housing development for future generations
The film covers the challenges faced by the two villages we visited, Carmunnock and Stepps, located near Glasgow. These communities are battling against major housing development companies. The film sheds light on their ongoing financial and emotional struggles, often without much success.
The communities valued our efforts to amplify their voices and were encouraged to continue their fight.