Stakeholder and Public Engagement

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) identifies that early discussion between applicants, the local planning authority and local community groups to address the design and style of emerging schemes. This is important to clarify third party expectations and reconcile commercial interests. The NPPF goes on to state that applications that demonstrate early, proactive and effective engagement with the community should be looked on more favourably than those that cannot.

The benefits of involvement are also made clear in the Government’s Planning Practice Guidance. It highlights how pre-application engagement improves the quality and likelihood of success of planning applications by:

• Working with interested parties at an early stage to identify, understand and seek to resolve issues associated with a proposed development;
• Discussing the possible mitigation of the impact of a proposed development, including any planning obligations and conditions;
• Identifying the information required to accompany an application, thus reducing the likelihood of delays in registering the submitted application.

CSJ Planning advise on the need for and type of stakeholder and public consultation exercises required for major planning applications. Whilst we can facilitate and manage these in house, we can also provide expert planning input to dedicated public relations consultancies. Our approach includes:

• PR, lobbying, marketing campaigns, and press releases
• Website and presentations facilities
• Arrangement of, and attendance at, public consultation and stakeholder events
• Postal campaigns, surveys and questionnaires
• Reporting as part of a planning application via a Statement of Community Involvement
• Feedback and updates to the public and relevant stakeholders

CSJ planning find that early engagement improves the prospect of successful outcomes for planning applications as they will have been informed by the community’s knowledge and expectations. Consultation can also assist in bringing forward sustainable development without unnecessary delay and expense by ensuring all relevant planning issues are addressed at the earliest stage.

If you wish to discuss anything related to the above, please get in contact with us via the contact details provided below.