Develop a stakeholder consultation strategy

The Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council Pathfinder team used design charettes over a couple of days to bring officers, consultants and stakeholders together in a collaborative environment. These events included site visits and workshops, and included the participation of elected members, who were able to add detailed local insight.

While resource-intensive, BCP’s approach engaged stakeholders early in the process and helped to build relationships which,

in turn, accelerated the co-production of the code. The team considered their approach successful and had no hesitation in recommending it to others. As they said, “Hosting events is about quality of engagement and enabling a collaboration between different disciplines. Having people in the same room was very good and a positive platform”.

The Lake District National Park Authority Pathfinder team used the Lake District National Park Partnership (NPP) – an established entity comprising 22 organisations representing the public, private, community and voluntary sectors – alongside local architects and material suppliers to develop the design code steering group. They then used this group to build a wide consensus on the content of their code at key stages of its development. As a ready-made and widely representative sounding board, the NPP was a particularly helpful forum for the Lake District team.

After first introducing the steering group to the concept of design codes, the Lake District team used them to define core themes and areas of focus. They held four workshops in total to support the development of the code, including an introduction to codes and defining key priorities; a baseline review; a review of character and identity, and lastly a review of nature and sustainability in the context of design codes.

The Lake District team’s engagement strategy also included wider public consultation. Called ‘Have your say on the Lake District’s unique Design Code’, it was promoted with a video to encourage residents to share their views on the emerging design code.

This piece was written in collaboration with Peter Neal, an independent consultant and expert in planning, design, funding and management of green infrastructure frameworks, urban parks and the public realm. Peter Neal – Design Council