Background
SP Broadway was instructed to undertake a community and political consultation programme for the redevelopment and extension of a regional distribution centre in Warwickshire. The 40 acre site would encompass approximately 62,500sqm of employment space with a mixture of start-up and larger units, creating between 500 and 1,000 jobs.
Challenge
The communications challenge was twofold: careful consultation was needed with the owner of a Grade II listed house immediately adjacent to the site, along with existing tenants and nearby residents. Additionally, a neighbouring distribution centre had already sought and gained planning permission for much of our client’s land.
Solution
- Meetings were held with the owner of the adjacent Grade II listed building.
- A consultation webpage was set up explaining the benefits of the proposal to as wide an audience as possible.
- We communicated with existing tenants and key political stakeholders stressing the benefits and deliverability of the proposal.
- We presented the proposals to North Warwickshire Borough Council Planning and Development Board.
- A public exhibition was held to enable key political and community stakeholders along with residents to view the proposals. SP Broadway drafted a Report on Community Engagement submitted with the planning application.
Result
In October 2013 the Planning and Development Board voted unanimously to approve the application.
