Power to the people

The government’s Localism Bill is still working its way through parliament but at its heart is the concept of enabling people to have more power to make local decisions.

There are three main strands:

• Communities can develop their own neighbourhood plans
• Communities can grant outline planning permission for developments they’d like to see happen
• Communities will have a much greater say in what’s developed through the requirement for greater consultation by developers

Paver Smith is helping developers plan for and manage more effective public consultation programmes that meet the terms and the spirit of this emerging legislation.

The picture is fuzzy but planners, politicians and the public have already picked up on the requirement to consult more effectively. Paver Smith can help you avoid the pitfalls of ‘under-engagement’.