ConsultOnline blog
Ideas for better planning consultation
Insights on public consultation, community engagement and planning communications.
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Planning reform may speed decisions but will not remove local concern
As government begins to regionalise, and in some respects centralise, parts of the planning system, those putting in a planning application should not assume that local engagement becomes less important – because it may become more so.
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Working with new councillors
The recent local elections have seen a considerable influx of new councillors, which potentially introduces additional complexity for planning application decisions and local plans.
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Delegated planning decisions and the growing importance of consultation
The government’s National Scheme of Delegation is intended to speed decision-making. For applicants, it makes early engagement and a clear planning narrative more important, not less.
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AI and the Consultation Trap
Why planning needs new ground rules for the age of generated representations
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The engagement challenges of Brownfield First
Brownfield development may be politically easier to support than greenfield release, but it still needs a clear planning narrative and credible engagement.
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What do the local election results mean for communications on planning applications?
A change in political control does not usually mean that the planning system starts again. But it can change what applicants need to explain, who they need to reassure and where opposition is likely to gather.
From newsreels to networks
How public communication changed since the 1940s and why it matters for new towns now. From shared national stories to fragmented networks, AI-generated objections and the new demands this places on planning communications.
Protecting consultation integrity: how we prevent spam and fake responses
ConsultOnline provides configurable verification, anti-bot controls and access settings that can help teams reduce automated or ineligible submissions and review consultation response integrity.
Virtual public exhibitions for planning: how to replace the village hall
Public exhibitions are a staple of planning consultation, but they are expensive, time-limited and exclude anyone who cannot attend. Virtual exhibitions offer a better alternative \u2014 here is how they work and why they produce better engagement.
Real-time analytics: knowing whether your consultation is actually working
Most consultation teams only discover how well their consultation performed after it closes. ConsultOnline's real-time dashboards change that \u2014 giving you the insight to adjust your approach while there is still time to make a difference.
AI-powered objections are here: how should the planning and development sector respond?
The same technologies that make consultation more accessible can also automate objection. Planning promoters need to respond by making consultation easier to engage with, harder to manipulate and more transparent.
Online public consultation: a complete guide for UK planning teams
A practical guide to running online public consultations for planning applications in the UK \u2014 covering platform options, engagement strategies, legal considerations and how to produce consultation evidence that planning authorities take seriously.