The work isn’t over when a scheme is granted planning consent – in many respects it’s just beginning.
Likewise, the consultation website shouldn’t be discarded at this point. Throughout a public consultation, ConsultOnline will have attracted interest to the website, gained the goodwill of many local residents, and the contact details of those who have an interest in the scheme.
These qualities are crucial to the scheme during the construction phase – the local community will need to understand what’s going on, want to know more detail about the timescales involved, and may need to be contacted directly in relation to the operations on site.
A CommunitiesOnline website is simply a ConsultOnline website adapted (at no additional cost) for this purpose. A CommunitiesOnline website provides some or all of the following:
- Home Page – an introduction to the work being carried out on site with links to key pages
- About the Scheme – an introduction to the proposals, which may include a timeline, interactive Google maps and Frequently Asked Questions (to which respondents may contribute)
- Construction update –regular updates regarding activity on site
- Media Gallery – video, image and audio files
- The Team – an introduction to the team with hyperlinks to each organisation’s own website as appropriate. Links which demonstrate environmental awareness, commitment to using local workers and apprenticeship schemes can be very beneficial at this stage.
- Planning – the planning consent document and Construction Management Plan may be uploaded
- Useful info – links to resources which may be of interest to local residents; perhaps a link to the Considerate Constructors Scheme.
- Contact Us – our contact details (downloadable as Vcards) and the opportunity for residents to sign up to regular news updates. We can provide a separate channel to enable people to get in touch regarding jobs or providing services, or provide an opportunity for individuals to get together to form a community association.
- A list of Quick Links on each page, which guide the user to relevant pages elsewhere on the website.
Very importantly, the website and ongoing engagement process are managed by us, allowing the developer to focus on development.
Contact us to find out how we can work with you to deliver excellent – and very cost effective – community relations during construction.
Penny Norton
Penny’s book Public Consultation and Community Involvement in Planning: a twenty-first century guide is published by Routledge in June 2017. Please email Penny to receive notification of its publication.