Importance of consulting well and doing it early in the process

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation explored the experience of the Derwenthorpe development through a series of seminars. The lessons that emerged stressed the need for sensitive early involvement.

The research also suggests that some of the objections may have resulted from residents being consulted ‘too soon', which gave them time to martial their objections, oppose the plans and cause lengthy delays and increased costs, before they really knew the details of the proposed development.

"Looking across a number of new communities, seminar series participants felt that planners contribute to ‘the culture of objection' by producing plans ‘behind closed doors' in advance of public consultation, rather than plans that are in response to public consultation... Where citizens feel excluded from planning processes, and are therefore poorly informed of critical issues facing their locality, they tend to be either apathetic and thus absent from public debate, or deeply suspicious of decision-makers and thus almost ‘knee-jerk' objectors to development. The debate about Derwenthorpe since the early optimistic days (had) been dominated by objectors.

....Many of the stakeholders in Derwenthorpe felt that objection against new development could be reduced by earlier, broad-based participation, which ought to take place within the context of the local plan (or, now, local development framework) process and not on a site-by-site basis. Within this context, earlier participation means involving citizens in a complete planning process from the vision stage, and having and resolving the debate on the appropriate use of individual sites well before a development brief is prepared or an outline planning application is made. This way citizens are knowledgeable about planning issues and feel involved in the process rather than thinking it is owned by planners working behind closed doors. Earlier involvement is also a recommendation of the Government's White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future, which gave rise to the Planning Act 2008".

In dealing with objections:

"Objection to new housing sites will be countered only when participation processes in planning are broad-based, involving citizens from across the local authority area in consideration of key strategic issues. Participation should occur early in the process, when longer-term vision is being formulated, rather than just after the plans are prepared."

However it needs to be done well:

"Citizen participation needs to be organised with care. Each step should consider what exactly is the role of citizens and community groups, whether views solicited and decisions taken are binding or advisory, and likely perceptions of the quality and ‘fairness' of the process. Consideration is also required on the relationship between formal groups, such as a representative community panel, and open events for all citizens."

Neighbouring in contemporary Britain, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 2006