Articles, comment and advice on consultation for the planning and development sector have focused extensively on the methodologies used (specifically striking a balance between online and offline) and the potential to reach wide-ranging stakeholders (including the ‘seldom heard’).

These subjects have been covered to the extent that, as recent research has found, the actual essence of the consultation – what is consulted upon – has been overlooked.

tCI Associate, Penny Norton, in a piece of research commissioned by Bang the Table, has looked into the subject of consultation in some depth.  Her ebook, People in Planning: Considering Consultation Content, published on 9 June, considers whether consultations work best when consultee are asked very focused questions to shape the planning application; or should people be given a blank sheet of paper on which to offer a wide range of thoughts and suggestions? It considers to what extent is the content of a consultation should be affected by location, sector, demographic and other variables. Should the approach be determined by the timing of the consultation in the planning schedule – more general earlier on, more focused as the submission date approaches?

The ebook can be downloaded from the PNPR or Bang the Table websites and its publication will be marked with a webinar, hosted by Bang the Table, on Wednesday 30 June.