Public engagement specialists Shared Voice have called on the Government to overhaul community consultation practices within the planning system, warning that current models are contributing to housing delays and declining public trust.
In a response to the Government's consultation on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Shared Voice argues that traditional consultation methods — including public exhibitions and open-ended surveys — tend to favour the most vocal and organised participants, while those who would benefit most from new development, such as renters and younger residents, are rarely heard.
The company says this imbalance can lead to schemes being scaled back to manage opposition, ultimately reducing the number of affordable homes delivered.
Shared Voice recommends shifting towards more representative engagement, including polling by accredited organisations, structured deliberative forums and improved planning portals that make it equally straightforward to register support as to lodge an objection.
