Comment

Engagement on applications now a material consideration?

The new NPPF introduces a specific requirement on pre-application consultation with a particular focus on design development.

It states that “applications that can demonstrate early, proactive and effective engagement should be looked on more favourably than those that cannot” but it does not specify what level of engagement is required, who is to be approached, how and over what period. What ‘early, proactive and effective’ engagement actually means will be crucial to understanding how much of a material consideration community engagement will actually become.

We have been successfully advising our clients for the past decade on early, proportionate and meaningful engagement with community, political and media stakeholders across the development world. We see the NPPF's impact as business as usual, but with a new focus. 

Contact the Strategic Communications team to start the discussion.

25 July 2018