Unlocking the potential of engagement and consultation: six important roles in property and regeneration
30/10/2023
Jade Anderson
Engagement and consultation play a pivotal role in the success of property and regeneration projects. While property development and regeneration can hugely benefit communities, they can also bring about substantial change and potential disruption to the lives of local communities.
To avoid frustration, opposition and complaint, it is crucial to involve the public in these engagement processes to ensure that the public consultation is inclusive, responsive and aligns to the needs of the community.
In this blog, we’ll delve into six roles that effective engagement and consultation play in property and regeneration, and how this can ultimately empower communities and lead to successful project outcomes.
1. Transparency and trust building
Open communication and transparency are essential in building trust between stakeholders. Through engagement and consultation, project developers can provide insights into their plans, address concerns and maintain open communication. Those promoting a project can also talk about constraints and what they can and cannot change.
Trust is critical for long-term project success, and you can read further about importance of building trust through consultation in our blog here.
2. Community empowerment and inclusivity
Engagement and consultation can empower communities in a positive way by giving them a voice during the development process. Local residents can also provide deeper knowledge and insights of the area's history, culture, and current needs.
By involving residents, local businesses and other stakeholders, projects can be considered and designed in ways to meet their needs and preferences. This inclusivity ensures the community is listened to and involved in the process. It can mean the difference between a positive path through the planning process or not.
3. Identifying challenges and finding solutions early on
Engagement and consultation help identify any potential challenges and mitigate risks early in the planning process. By seeking input from various stakeholders early on, from residents to ward councilors, property developers can find solutions to potential issues and ensure the project aligns with the ambitions of the local area. Better to flush out issues on the front foot rather than to be on the back foot in front of a planning committee.
4. Environmental and social sustainability
Feedback and engagement from the community can lead to sustainable developments that preserve green spaces, protect wildlife, and provide positive impacts on the community.
Likewise, through consultation, property and regeneration projects again can also be designed to support local economic growth, and create new job opportunities and apprenticeships through the development phases of a project. Quite often local insights can unearth interesting ideas and proposals that can make proposals even stronger.
5. Legal and regulatory compliance
The boring but essential bit! Consultation is often a legal requirement for many property development projects. Engagement with local authorities, communities and other regulatory bodies ensures that the project adheres to required legal standards. Assume consultation activities will be interrogated and challenged. It is important to ensure the process is robust so it stands up to scrutiny.
6. Long term regeneration success
Engaging with a community should not end with the completion of a project. Ongoing engagement is vital for maintaining the vitality of the area, ensuring it remains a sustainable and thriving space to live, work and enjoy.
Public consultation and engagement are not just a courtesy. Nor should it be treated as a tick-box exercise. It is a vital component of responsible and sustainable development. It empowers communities in a positive way, enhances project outcomes, promotes transparency and trust, addresses local concerns and strengthens neighbourhoods as they change. It also reduces risks to projects by decreasing the potential for last-minute opposition and surprises.
By engaging the public in these processes, we can create spaces that are vibrant and inclusive and reflect the community they serve.
If you’re interested in learning more about the engagement and consultation work we do and how it can benefit your project, please reach out to us on 0114 252 1170 or operations@countercontext.com