ConsultOnline blog
Ideas for better planning consultation
Insights on public consultation, community engagement and planning communications.
The internet and local communities: the hyperlocal website
The rise of the ‘hyperlocal’ website is of critical importance to the planner, developer and local authority. Not only do hyperlocal websites play an extremely constructive role in promoting and debating local issues, they have considerable campaigning potential and such warrant an understanding by the profession. The term ‘hyperlocal’, which originates from the US, describes ...
The future of consultation in planning
My book Public Consultation and Community Involvement in Planning: a twenty-first century guide looks in detail at the way in which consultation has changed so far this century. From an increased use of co-production resulting in a more qualitative approach, to significant advancements in online consultation, change has been substantial. Looking ahead, is consultation likely ...
Consultation challenges
Understanding of the potential challenges from the outset is necessary in order for them to be addressed – so what are the reasons for common problems? Access Failure to engage with a wider audience, specifically the ‘hard to reach,’ and to gain responses from the ‘silent majority’. Apathy and consultation fatigue. Clarity A lack of ...
The importance of research in consultation
Ideally the early stage of strategy formation in a consultation programme should assess the context of the consultation as broadly as possible to ensure that all factors are taken into account. Useful methods for situational analysis are the PEST (political, economic, social and technological) and SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) methods. Stakeholder analysis is central ...
An increasingly litigious scene for consultation
So far this century, we have experienced a huge increase in the number of consultations ending up in the courts. The Consultation Institute, specifically its two-day The Law of Consultation training course, provides a very comprehensive overview. Several of the examples featured involve planning and development. Due to the absence of a requirement to consultation ...
The impact of Covid-19 on climate change engagement
In recent blogs, I’ve focussed on my work with the Environmental Working Group of The Consultation Institute and the need for a clear strategy. In the time that we’ve been planning our work, Covid-19 has changed everything and it’s certainly had a significant impact on discussions about climate change. The points below show just a ...
Communicating on climate change – getting the messaging right
Following on from my earlier blog about the need for a comprehensive engagement strategy on climate change issues, I plan to look at some of specific elements of the strategic framework in a bit more detail, starting with messaging. Climate change is such a broad subject, it’s not surprising that it has many conflicting messages ...
‘Build, Build, Build’ for a sustainable and inclusive recovery
In the Consultation Institute’s Environment Working Group’s first webinar we outlined our belief that the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic has huge potential as a ‘green’ recovery. In the last three months the nation has been shocked by the pace at which disaster can occur and consequently concerns about climate change have been brought to ...
Climate change: engaging the public
There is no denying the fact that the impact of climate change is substantial, universal and requires both adaptation and mitigation. Even amid the current Covid-19 crisis, climate change remains a pressing issue – if anything the issue is highlighted by the evidence that clean air, clean waterways and more sustainable living and working practices ...
Consultation post Covid
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 ...
No consultation lockdown published in Scottish Housing News
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 ...
Coronavirus and consultation
In the epicentre of a crisis, looking to the future can seem both pointless and worrying. But longer term, challenges can create positives – consider the career opportunities for women following WW1 and the establishment of the NHS following WW2. The potential impact of coronavirus on the development sector is significant, not just today but ...