By Paul Hutchinson Simpson, Communications and Engagement, Regeneration, Economy and Planning, Westminster City Council
Change is never easy, especially when it involves regenerating. That’s why our recent webinar, Winning the Argument for Change, focused on how local authorities can engage residents effectively and navigate the complexities of regeneration.
Chaired by me, a Lambeth-based LGcomms executive member who works for Westminster City Council in their Regeneration and Development Team, the session explored best practices for local authorities in an era when central government is pushing for faster and larger-scale development. We had an expert panel on hand to help us tackle these challenges:
- Harriet Shone, a Senior Director at Cratus Group,
- Siddo Dwyer, an Account Director at Concilio
- and Claire Callow, a Consultation and engagement professional in the built environment
To encourage discussion, the session was held under Chatham House Rules.
Key Takeaways
- While engagement and consultation will take time, effort, and money, it is far cheaper to make this investment upfront than to have projects delayed or derailed by the opposition and lost ballots down the line.
- Rather than ‘winning an argument for change’, consider how you can build coalitions with residents and stakeholders. This will help smooth the way for your project. Also, as a local authority, you are here for the long haul. You need to establish and maintain good relations all around.
- Quick wins with your community by investing in facilities and removing pain points, such as tackling ongoing antisocial behaviour and fixing maintenance issues, will help build credibility and relationships.
- When putting your engagement activities together, it is vital to consider the residents and groups that you are trying to reach. Where do they spend their time? Who locally can help you get to them? A mix of all engagement channels will be essential.
- Good design will help you get cut through with residents and stakeholders. When you think about design, consider how it will work online, in newsletters and posters.
- Consider how best you can set expectations with residents about the scope of consultations – what is and isn’t in scope. How can you respond to residents and their comments? How can you set up an effective feedback loop?
Conclusion
Regeneration and development projects will always face challenges, but with the right engagement strategy, local authorities can build strong coalitions, gain community support, and ultimately deliver better outcomes for residents.
The insights from this LGcomms webinar reinforce that investing in meaningful, transparent engagement is not just a best practice—it’s an essential ingredient for success.