A three or four-day workshop that will bring together community representatives, the local authority, other relevant service providers and a developer or landowner. We’ll also facilitate two public meetings, one at the beginning to collect all the ideas and issues that affect your community, and one at the end to present back our conclusions and recommendations.

Amidst other things, this could be used where housing growth has been forecast for your village, town or neighbourhood and a developer has been identified. We will be looking for either the local authority or developer to provide match funding.

It could be where specific sites have been identified – we can help the community and local authority ensure new development is designed to reflect local character, and that it enhances the area rather than detracts from.

What we’ll expect from the community:

• We will expect you to act as the client – this will involve signing a contract with us agreeing what we will deliver and what you will need to provide
• We will expect you to host the event, providing where possible a suitable venue such as a community hall, and refreshments
• We will expect you to help us to identify who should attend the workshop
• We will also expect you to mobilise the wider community for the public meetings

What we’ll need from your Local Authority:

• A commitment to attend the workshop and offer advice on the local planning process, service provision and policy
• Where possible to provide us with access to detailed maps of the area
• A commitment to listen to the outcomes of the workshop and listen to the community

What you’ll get from us:

• You’ll get our experience in the role of a facilitator in community led planning
• We will make an initial visit to meet stakeholders and the local community, explaining the scheme and the workshop process. This will also be an opportunity for the community to express their concerns and needs to our team
• We will then spend three or four days working in your community looking at the issues you have helped us to identify. At least one of these days will involve all the local stakeholders
• We’ll also facilitate the two public meetings, to ensure the maximum number of people within your community can have their say

These recommendations will be put in a report which can be used as a demonstration of community engagement. This report will include all the outputs from the workshop and can be used by both the community and local authority as a record of an agreed approach.