This document provides an outline of the planning system in England before detailing a number of techniques and tools for involving the community in the planning process.

It considers the advantages and disadvantages of the various tools and techniques and provides an account of the community engagement methods used by Regional Assemblies across the country.

A scoping exercise with Regional Assemblies was carried out during August 2005 to reveal the techniques that are being used to involve the public at a regional level or that are intended to be used. The scoping involved a review of Assembly websites together with informal telephone interviews with Assembly members involved in developing or reviewing Regional Spatial Strategies.

The document considers the pros and cons of a range of general engagement techniques:

As well as more specific methods such as:

The scoping exercise revealed that the techniques being used at regional level are very similar to the main techniques used at different levels in England:

Town and Country Planning Association
http://www.tcpa.org.uk/contacts.asp

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Rachel Walmsley and Eva George – Town and Country Planning Association

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Community development

Citizens' participation