SEC Newgate UK responds to MHCLG consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning

We recently submitted our response to the Ministry of Communities, Housing and Local Government to its consultation on streamlining infrastructure planning.

We have focused particularly on questions about guidance for pre-application consultation. Our response draws on our experience developing and delivering consultation programmes for over 30 NSIPs, alongside insights from our annual nationally representative research on community sentiment towards large-scale infrastructure.The full response is available here.

We welcome the emphasis throughout the consultation document on the need for early, meaningful consultation. Guidance has an important role to play in setting expectations for all parties, but it needs to provide applicants with the flexibility to take an approach appropriate to a project’s likely impacts and local context if it is going to support an efficient, faster, proportionate and effective NSIP process.

Our response includes a number of recommendations on what the guidance should do to ensure that:

•  Set out a preference for early, iterative consultation with all affected parties, ensuring people are consulted when proposals can be genuinely influenced by feedback.
• Outline clear expectations and principles for community consultation to ensure this remains proportionate, meaningful and consistently applied.

• Encourage ongoing collaboration between applicants, relevant organisations, the Planning Inspectorate and local authorities to prevent delays and manage resource constraints, including the scope and methods of consultation.

  Provide certainty on:
  - The circumstances in which consultation is expected
  - Principles for how consultation should be carried out
  - Expected outcomes that consultation and engagement should deliver

• Support a digital first, but not digital only approach. Guidance should set out that applicants should consider how consultees can access information and respond appropriately. Our research supports that a mix of methods are needed to promote inclusivity and effectiveness.
   
• Adapt publicity requirements in favour of a multi-channel approach tailored to the audience and geography.
   

If you would like to discuss how your organisation can prepare for changes to guidance on consultation, get in touch hello@secnewgate.co.uk