This time two weeks ago a development director of a leisure company might have been running or contributing to a consultation event for a proposed scheme – providing there was enough hand sanitizer to go round.  But what a difference a fortnight makes.  Today all leisure facilities are closed, public meetings are banned and most […]

It goes without saying that the impact of coronavirus on the development sector will be significant – not only the immediate, considerable and often unpredictable obstacles that we face today but for years to come.  But the housing shortage won’t go away and new infrastructure is desperately needed. An immediate impact of the coronavirus crisis […]

This time two weeks ago a housing association might have been running or contributing to a consultation event for a proposed scheme – providing there was enough hand sanitizer to go round.  But what a difference a fortnight makes.  Today all public meetings and construction work is banned, and any ongoing work is taking place […]

For any builder involved in development projects, communication with local residents usually starts during the planning process. But it doesn’t end there. Once you’re on site, the immediate community, local groups and potential occupants will all want to understand what’s being built and the timescales involved. They’ll be the first to complain about bad parking, […]

I am frequently asked whether consultation is a legal requirement in planning. The fact that it is impossible to answer in fewer than 100 words exemplifies just how complex community involvement in planning has become. And so I, and other Associates of the Consultation Institute, very much welcome the Interim Report of the Raynsford Review […]

While the property world is being transformed by PropTech, a comparison between most developer-led consultations with those of the late twentieth century would suggest that little has changed:  today’s consultations appear to rely on newsletters, exhibitions and paper surveys, just as they did then. And yet innovative and effective communications tools exist, and have the […]

From the first planning meeting to the last construction vehicle leaving site, building benefits from positive communication with local residents.  And as the way in which people’s approach to communication changes, so too should the construction industry’s.  The internet is changing communication in every context.  Today over 90% households have internet access, 73% adults own […]

Digital communication is transforming how contractors approach stakeholder liaison on major projects. Penny Norton explains. From the first planning meeting to the last vehicle leaving site, construction benefits from positive communication with local residents. And as the way in which people’s approach to communication changes, so too should the construction industry’s. The internet is changing […]

Try to envisage a world without Local Plans, the NPPF, Neighbourhood Planning, Localism and CIL and its clear quite how much planning has changed in the last ten years. And the same is true of communication: not only the means by which we communicate but also the manner in which we communicate. The extent of […]

The law surrounding statutory consultation is extensive. And yet when developers consult on planning applications, there is a stark absence of official guidance, regulation and case law. Why, in a discipline led by professionals – chartered surveyors, planning consultants and lawyers – is the approach to consultation so lacking in professional rigour?  Because in most […]

Consultation can deliver a real insight into a local area, create enduring beneficial relationships and of course provide the information necessary for a comprehensive Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and ultimately achieve planning success. Yet frequently developers view consultation as a risk – more often than not because of concern that vocal locals may ambush […]

From the first planning meeting to the placing of the last brick, property development relies heavily on positive communication with the local community.  But as the way in which people communicate changes, is the development community keeping up to speed, and are we making the most of the benefits that online communication offers? The internet […]

The internet revolution presents the development community with huge potential to transform public consultation on planning applications, but this is yet to be fully realised. Planning authorities are now required to post applications online, local residents discuss and debate development proposals via social media and in blogs, and the media gathers these views to inform […]

Communication with local residents usually starts during the planning process, but it certainly doesn’t end there.  Whether you’re refurbishing an existing building or creating a new scheme, the immediate community, local groups and potential users / purchasers will want to understand what’s being done and the timescales involved. They may also be interested to receive […]

Article published in Construction Manager, 1 September 2015

Communication with local residents isn’t complete when a school or university is granted planning consent – in many respects it’s just beginning.  The local community – nearby residents, future pupils and staff and the wider community – will need to understand what’s proposed, will want to know the timescales involved, and may be interested to […]

Communication with local residents usually starts during the planning process, but it certainly doesn’t end there.  The immediate community, local groups and potential users / purchasers will want to understand what’s being built and the timescales involved. They may also be interested to receive regular updates.  Equally it may be useful to have the contact […]

Planning permission will break any potential hotel development but is widely recognised as being a bit of a minefield – perhaps more so than ever now public consultation is required for the majority of planning applications. Added, to that local residents are becoming increasing aware of their role in the planning system and how they […]

The legal obligation to consult on a planning application has existed for many years and following the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, reporting on the methodology, results and impact of a consultation has become a specific requirement.  Simultaneously, localism and neighbourhood planning – not to mention an enhanced media profile for the profession – […]