Involving the community in plan preparation

The return to favour of community planning in the U.K. in recent years provides local people with an increased opportunity to become involved in the planning process. However, the degree to which they do will largely depend upon the local authorities' commitment to public consultation. Given the minimum of legislation enforcing local authorities to consult over planning matters it is therefore surprising to find major consultation exercises being undertaken. The Hillfields Local Community Plan in Coventry provides a good example of consultation which involved interest groups, residents, businesses, and shoppers. The exercise provided qualitative and quantitative information which has assisted planners formulating a Local Action Plan, the implementation of which will help the local community address problems which it has identified.