Local Plan Review Engagement Strategy

While there is no statutory requirement to prepare a separate Engagement Strategy, local planning authorities are required to involve communities, stakeholders and prescribed bodies in the preparation of Local Plans. The statutory framework includes the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, supported locally by the Council's Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and by national planning policy and guidance.

Together, these require consultation at key stages of plan preparation and the publication of information explaining who has been consulted, how engagement has been undertaken, the main issues raised, and how representations have been considered. National plan-making guidance also expects local planning authorities to have a clear community engagement strategy, setting out the purpose, audiences and objectives of engagement.

This Engagement Strategy therefore supports the SCI by explaining the practical approach Nottingham City Council will take to early, meaningful, accessible and proportionate engagement as the Local Plan Review progresses.

The Council's adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) sets out the overarching approach and minimum standards for consultation and engagement in planning matters. This Engagement Strategy should be read alongside the SCI. The Council will, as a minimum, meet the Local Plan consultation requirements in the SCI. Where this Strategy identifies additional or enhanced engagement activities, these will supplement rather than replace the SCI commitments.

The Local Plan will help guide where development takes place, how neighbourhoods grow and change, and how homes, jobs, infrastructure, open space and community facilities are planned.

The Council's approach is guided by six core principles, applied in a way that is proportionate to the stage of plan preparation, the issues being considered, statutory requirements, available resources and the need to maintain progress against the Local Plan timetable:

1. Early and focused involvement – People should have opportunities to comment before key decisions are made, with engagement focused on matters that can realistically be influenced at each stage.
2. Inclusive participation – Everyone should have the opportunity to take part, with reasonable steps taken to avoid excluding people who may face barriers to participation, including barriers relating to disability, language, literacy, income or digital access.
3. Clear and accessible information – Planning can be technical; information will be presented as clearly as possible, supported by digital publication and alternative formats or assistance where appropriate.
4. Transparency – Clear information will be provided about the purpose of consultations, the issues being considered and how decisions are reached.
5. Flexible and accessible methods – Digital tools will help make information widely available and easy to respond to, alongside targeted, assisted or non-digital approaches where these are needed to support accessibility and effective participation.
6. Continuous improvement – The Council will review the effectiveness of engagement and refine its approach where this is helpful, proportionate and deliverable.

The Council is committed to preparing a Local Plan informed by meaningful engagement. Engagement will help inform the Plan, but it will not replace the Council's responsibility to make planning judgements having regard to evidence, national policy, legal requirements, deliverability and the Local Plan timetable. The Council will meet the minimum standards in the adopted SCI.

Engagement helps us understand local issues, priorities and evidence before decisions are made. It also helps people understand the plan-making process, the choices available and the matters that can realistically be influenced at each stage.

Proportionate and targeted engagement helps us to:

• identify local issues, priorities and aspirations;
• improve the quality and effectiveness of planning policies;
• draw on evidence and local knowledge that may not otherwise be available;
• increase understanding of the plan-making process, planning issues and realistic choices;
• understand the potential impacts of different options;
• support transparency and confidence in the plan-making process; and
• demonstrate how engagement has informed the preparation of the Plan, while recognising that final decisions must take account of evidence, national policy, legal requirements, deliverability and the Local Plan timetable.

Engagement is an ongoing process, not a single exercise. Different methods will be used at different stages depending on the issues and audiences involved. The Council is committed to learning from each stage and refining its approach accordingly.

Engagement on the Local Plan will use a mix of methods, with digital tools helping to make information widely available and easy to respond to. We will tailor methods to the purpose of each stage, the issues being considered, the audiences involved, statutory requirements, available resources and the Local Plan timetable.

Engagement methods

Digital methods can help people engage at a time and place convenient to them and can broaden access to information. These methods will be used alongside appropriate support and alternative ways to take part where this is necessary, proportionate and deliverable. The Council recognises that some people may prefer or require non-digital support, and will take reasonable steps to reduce barriers to participation.

In addition to city-wide consultation, targeted engagement may be used where particular issues, locations or groups require additional involvement. This will be prioritised where it is necessary to support the evidence base, meet statutory or duty-to-cooperate requirements, understand infrastructure and delivery issues, or reduce barriers to participation.

This may include:

• statutory consultees and infrastructure providers;
• neighbouring authorities and strategic partners;
• equality and inclusion groups;
• young people and educational institutions;
• community and voluntary organisations;
• residents affected by specific proposals;
• businesses and business representative organisations; and
• developers, landowners, agents and housing providers.

Engagement methods will be kept under review, but any changes will need to remain proportionate, deliverable and consistent with the Local Plan timetable. Feedback from participants may help refine future activities, particularly where it identifies practical barriers to participation or opportunities to improve clarity, accessibility or efficiency.

The preparation of the Local Plan will involve a wide range of individuals, organisations and interest groups. Different communities and stakeholders bring different experiences and expertise, all of which can help create a robust, deliverable and locally responsive Plan. The Council will maintain a consultation database and invite participation from anyone who wishes to be kept informed.

Being listed as a stakeholder group does not mean that every group will receive bespoke engagement at every stage. We will prioritise engagement where it is most relevant to the issues being considered, required by legislation or guidance, helpful to the evidence base, or necessary to support effective participation.

The Local Plan will be prepared through a series of stages, each with a different purpose. Early stages focus on identifying issues, opportunities and priorities; later stages seek views on specific policies, site allocations and proposed approaches. Opportunities to participate will be provided at each key stage. Methods will be proportionate to the issues and may be adapted in response to feedback, evidence, legislation and best practice.

At each stage the Council will consider views received and, where appropriate, publish consultation reports or summaries setting out the main issues raised and how they have influenced the Plan. Engagement is an ongoing conversation, not a single exercise.

We will also consult on the Strategic Environmental Assessment at appropriate stages alongside Local Plan consultations. This will include consultation on the SEA Scoping Report, Environmental Report and any associated environmental information where required.

We want people to be able to participate effectively in the Local Plan process. We will take reasonable and proportionate steps to reduce barriers relating to disability, language, literacy, caring responsibilities, age, digital access, confidence or awareness.

Particular consideration will be given to people or groups who may face barriers to participation, including young people, older people, disabled people, faith communities, minority and under-represented communities, residents who may be digitally excluded, community and voluntary organisations, students, and those particularly affected by specific proposals. The Council may work with community organisations and trusted local networks where this is appropriate, proportionate and likely to support effective participation.

Digital methods will help make engagement information easier to access and respond to, but support and alternative formats may be provided where people may otherwise face barriers to participation. This may include assisted digital support, alternative formats, clear signposting, accessible published material, paper inspection copies where required, and reasonable adjustments where requested and practicable.

The Council’s Local Plans Accessibility Statement also explains how Local Plan webpages and documents are made as accessible as possible, and how people can request information in a different format where needed.

Equality considerations will inform the design and review of engagement activity. Feedback on accessibility will be considered where it identifies practical barriers to participation or reasonable improvements that can be made in a proportionate and deliverable way.

All representations received during formal consultation periods will be considered in accordance with statutory requirements and the purpose of the relevant stage. Engagement informs decision-making, but it does not determine outcomes by a simple count of comments received. The Council must balance consultation responses with evidence, national policy, legal requirements, environmental assessment, infrastructure considerations, deliverability and the Local Plan timetable.
 
At key statutory stages, the Council will prepare consultation statements or equivalent reporting documents as required. These will record who was consulted, how consultation was undertaken, the main issues raised, and how those issues have been considered in preparing the Plan. Reporting will focus on the issues that are relevant to the stage, rather than providing individual responses to every representation unless required.
Where appropriate, the Council may use summary tables, issue summaries or a proportionate "you said, we did" approach so participants can understand the main ways in which engagement has influenced the Plan or supporting evidence. Feedback on the engagement process itself will be considered where it identifies practical improvements that can be made in a proportionate and deliverable way.

Preparation of the Local Plan will take place in line with the Local Plan timetable. We encourage communities, businesses, organisations and stakeholders to stay informed and take part at formal consultation stages and other relevant engagement opportunities.
 
Information will be made available primarily through the Local Plan webpage, the Council's consultation platform, email notifications to those on the consultation database, published consultation material, public notices and consultation reports or summaries. Newsletters, social media, stakeholder meetings or events may also be used where appropriate, proportionate and deliverable.
 
The most effective way to stay informed is to register on the Council's consultation database. People who register will receive notifications about future consultation stages, publication of key documents, relevant engagement opportunities, examination updates and adoption.

Alongside the Local Plan, the Council is undertaking a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The SEA helps identify, assess and address the likely significant environmental effects of the Local Plan and reasonable alternatives before decisions are made. It considers topics such as biodiversity, climate change, flood risk, water, air quality, heritage, landscape and human health. The SEA will inform the Local Plan from an early stage and will be consulted on at appropriate points alongside the Plan.

The Planning Policy Team welcomes involvement from anyone with an interest in the future development of Nottingham.

Planning Policy Team
Nottingham City Council
Loxley House
Station Street
Nottingham
NG2 3NG

Website: The Local Plan and Planning Policy - Nottingham City Council