Online public consultation: a complete guide for UK planning teams

Online public consultation has moved from a nice-to-have supplement to physical events to an essential part of how planning engagement is conducted in the UK. Whether you are a council running a statutory consultation, a planning consultancy managing multiple projects or a developer preparing a pre-application engagement strategy, digital consultation is now expected by both planning authorities and the communities you are consulting.

This guide covers the key considerations for running effective online consultations for UK planning applications.

Why online consultation matters for planning

Reaching the silent majority

Traditional consultation methods — public exhibitions, town hall meetings, printed newsletters — tend to attract people who feel strongly enough to make the effort to attend or respond. That typically means objectors. The majority of residents who may be supportive or neutral rarely participate, creating a skewed picture of community sentiment.