ConsultOnline blog
Ideas for better planning consultation
Insights on public consultation, community engagement and planning communications.
Live drop-in Q&A: an online public meeting
Live drop-in sessions let residents ask and vote on questions on the project website while the team answers during the session. Every question and answer stays on the site afterwards.
One website from consultation to construction
A project website no longer has to go quiet when the consultation closes. It can follow the scheme through the planning application and into construction, keeping residents informed at each stage.
Showing that responses come from genuine local residents
Personal registration codes on letters, verified local voices and grouping of near-identical responses help you show who has taken part, without asking residents for anything extra.
Rewarding residents for taking part
Points and badges give residents a simple record of how they have contributed to a consultation and a gentle reason to come back as the proposals develop.
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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.
Reports that send themselves, plus an editable Word version
Consultation reports can now be saved, downloaded as an editable Word document, printed with a branded cover and sent to your team automatically every day, week or month.
One page for every way to take part
A consultation website can offer surveys, maps, ideas and drop-in sessions. The Take part page brings them together, so residents can see their options and choose one that suits them.
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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.