Ongoing communication between developers and the community is important:
- after the planning approval and
- once development has started.
Guiding principles for post decision community engagement (PDCE)
The Cornwall Planning Partnership produced guidance for local councils. The guidance:
- is for use during the construction phase of a scheme
- sets out some options for local councils
- includes an example of a condition that could be suggested to the planning case officers.
Local Councils
A Local Council can raise the need for PDCE:
- in the consultation response during consideration of an application
- by speaking with the planning case officer.
Please include what form of engagement would be appropriate for your community.
Officers
Options for the case officer to add to a planning permission include:
- informatives
- planning conditions
- S106 agreement clauses.
PDCE condition for Construction and Environmental Management Plans
A suggested condition could be:
Construction and Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
No development (including demolition) will take place until a CEMP has been:
- submitted to and
- approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
This will include all details for:
i) arrangements for post-decision community engagement with the Local Council
ii) plan showing location of the contractor’s compound and site office(s)
iii) plan showing location of building material storage
iv) plan showing the location of parking for contractor’s and visitor’s vehicles
v) plan showing the location of loading/unloading areas for deliveries to the site(s)
vi) the:
- route
- parking and
- waiting areas for construction vehicles and deliveries to/from the site during construction
vii) management schedule for vehicle wheel cleaning upon exiting the site(s) onto a public highway during construction
viii) management for escorting construction traffic through the adjacent residential estates during construction
ix) controls site wide for managing dust during construction
x) all permits, contingency plans and mitigation measures needed to:
- control the risk of pollution to controlled water
- protect biodiversity and
- avoid, minimise and manage the productions of wastes
with particular attention on constraints and risks of the site.
The development:
- shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and
- any amendments agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To ensure that adequate measures are put in place to :
- minimise the impact of development on amenities of neighbouring residents
- avoid or manage the risk of:
- pollution of controlled waters or
- waste production during the course of the development works.
Local Councils could request a condition like this to the planning case officer. The developer who implements the permission would need to engage with your Council:
- in an agreed format
- after the decision
- during and after construction of the development.
Suggestions for post decision community engagement
Ways to engage with the local community post-decision include:
- regular update/’keep in touch’ slot at the local council planning meeting
- a specific meeting to address progress and issues on the site
- a formal Community Liaison Group.
Cornwall Council will also encourage:
- the use of company websites with a dedicated page for a site being developed
- social media
- e-mail alerts
- a dedicated Development helpline number
- the use of Developers Newsletters (printed or online)
- update leaflets circulated to residents.
These should include details of:
- dates of commencement
- road closures
- unusual deliveries
- potential changes to the scheme.
Local Councils should:
- keep in regular contact with the Site Manager and
- raise issues of concern as they arise.
- not necessarily wait for the next liaison or council meeting.
If you have requested this form of ongoing community engagement, please:
- remain open to different approaches from the developers
- allow for the agreed engagement to take place
- take a proactive stance to conditions discharge
- query suspected non-compliance
at meetings with developers. You can inform Cornwall Council of non-compliance issues.
More information is included in the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement
