“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
African proverb
Three reasons that developers become unpopular:
- “They smile and make all the right noises until securing planning consent; then they stop smiling and go very quiet (apart from the noise of the construction traffic).”
- “They run public consultations, but are not held to account when people’s wishes are ignored during development.”
- “They build exactly what they think they can sell without thinking about the impact on local people.”
We couldn’t agree more. These are completely valid observations, all of which have been made by people living close to new sites.
Our Master Developer approach is different. We look at what makes a place great from a community perspective and design it to meet that goal. If it’s an extension to an existing place, we strive to link them seamlessly. But that’s not enough.
We believe passionately that consultation is equally important after outline planning has been secured. That’s when some of the decisions that most impact local people are made:
Is it better to name local streets after local flowers and insects or historic landmarks and people? Should the ‘sports facilities’ in the plan focus on cricket or football? Would a local coffee shop be more useful than a butcher?
These things matter. And they should not be left entirely in the hands of developers.
That’s why we introduce a ‘Community Panel‘. We built this idea on the use of the demos in ancient Athenian democracy. This group of citizens, pulled from different areas of life, played a crucial role in decision-making and governance. It was seen as the foundation of democratic power, shaping laws, policies, and the direction of the city-state.
Our Panel is not political. It’s a representative group of local residents, initially drawn from the area around the development. Those people will be volunteers, asked to meet every quarter for an open discussion about the new place. They will be asked for feedback on plans and developments, views on upcoming decisions, and to raise concerns. We will be there to explain, consult and adapt as required.
The group will have up to 20 members, ensuring at least a dozen attendees at each meeting. The intention is for members to serve for a number of years to ensure continuity of relationships and understanding. There will, of course, be opportunities for new members to join the panel over time.
Importantly, this is not a one-stop-shop for community input. We continue to run consultations, research and surveys. The Panel provides another layer of ongoing input and accountability for everyone involved in designing and building the new place. We will also be developing a Youth Panel to ensure that younger voices are heard.