Consultation Hub

The Raynsford Review:  an opportunity for greater community involvement in planning

The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is undertaking a considerable review of the English planning system, intended to make it fairer, better resourced and capable of producing quality outcomes.  A key tenent of this is improved community involvement in the planning system. The task force, which is chaired by former planning minister Nick Raynsford, ...
Consultation Hub

Professionalising consultation in planning

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 Hub

Online consultation:  a social media warning

As someone who believes strongly in online consultation, I work with social media on planning applications on a daily basis.  On the whole I think that social media offers some fantastic opportunities for promoting and extending the accessibility of a planning application. But I have to say, don’t be tempted to use social media just ...
Property PR Hub

21st Century community relations: using online communications to benefit resident liaison published in Construction Manager

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 ...
Consultation Hub

How the web is changing construction community liaison strategies published in Construction Manager

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 ...
Consultation Hub

The book tour goes to Belfast

On Friday I’ll be in Belfast presenting to a law firm and the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action on the importance (and context, structure, issues and techniques) of consultation in planning. I’ll be covering some of the content of my book Public Consultation and Community Involvement in Planning: a twenty-first century guide and Rhion ...