Stakeholder Engagement

How we can help you:

In recent years, increasing emphasis has been placed on ensuring that the planning process reflects as fully as possible the aspirations and views of local communities.

Through the Localism Act 2011, this is taken further, with provision for Local Communities to prepare neighbourhood plans. We have much experience of this, and the expertise to manage the engagement processes effectively.

Our Expertise:

Stakeholder engagement can take many different forms: from the simple (for example, meetings, surveys and exhibitions) to the very sophisticated (for example, charettes and Enquiry by Design). Whichever is appropriate in a particular case, it is very important that it is planned and managed effectively. Positive support from the local community and other stakeholders can greatly improve the prospects of planning permission being granted; serious opposition can lead to disaster.

Our planners understand the sensitivities and subtleties involved in engagement work, and are experienced in talking to people in straightforward terms. From our large office network, we can usually field people who have personal knowledge of any given area. We are very conscious that the more significant planning decisions are made by elected politicians, and so take relations with councillors, elected mayors and MPs very seriously.

Where more specialist expertise is required, we have close links with experts who specialise in understanding the politics of different localities and types of property.