Consultation

Consultation has long been part of the planning process.

But gone are the days when developers could submit their proposals to the Local Planning Authority and simply rely on them to consult.

Put simply, stakeholders must be given the opportunity to comment on proposals before they are formalised by a planning submission. Importantly, there also needs to be a record of how these comments have influenced the detail of the proposal.

GKA makes best use of the growing requirements for community involvement to:

• engage with politicians and other key stakeholders
• inform the evolution of a planning proposal
• maximise support and minimise objection within the community
• ensure the best possible chance of success for the proposal

Consultation and community involvement activities can include:

• issuing consultation brochures and leaflets
• holding community exhibitions, forums and workshops
• developing project specific websites
• meeting with individuals or interested groups
• carrying out surveys and polls
• promoting and reporting on consultation events in the local press

We then prepare a Statement of Community Involvement to support the planning proposal and report on the consultation outcomes - information which is becoming increasingly influencial in the determination of development schemes.