We support the SCI setting out the benefits of pre-application consultation with the local community. However, we wonder if there are means by which the Councils can incentivise developers to consult with local communities and groups.
In responding to development proposals, we have become aware that during the pre-application stage there is no joined up communication between the views of community groups and the views of officers. This can lead to the applicant bringing forward proposals which meet the officers’ views, but which are not supported by the local community, and we have several examples of this. We have raised this issue with the planners previously and they felt that it would be helpful for officers to be aware of local concerns in order to inform the advice they are giving to developers. However, one of the challenges is confidentiality at the pre-application stage. One way around the confidentiality issue would be to ask for the developers’ consent for the planning authority to seek informal local input.
The section on Pre-application advice and consultation could be expanded to encourage a three-way communication between applicant, officer and community/civic group.
To make it easier for developers to consult the community we suggest that the Councils could provide contact details of parish councils, community groups and organisations.
We support the reference to the use of Urban Rooms. The hyperlink takes you to a University of Reading page. Would it not be more appropriate to link people to the University of Cambridge page on an Urban Room for Cambridge. https://www.arct.cam.ac.uk/research/urban-room-cambridge
In relation to the development of strategic sites, holding master planning workshops is another useful tool which can involve all parties (developer, local authority and community) discussing issues and hearing the views of others.