“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Jane Jacobs

This is why we need this guide

Nottingham City Council has embraced Placemaking as the ethos for design and planning processes in the city. An inclusive city is only achievable if all voices and experiences are heard. The planning system offer a great opportunity to deliver social targets through Placemaking and to help individuals and communities to grow, thrive and develop along the process. This guide, developed in partnership with Community Organisers Notts, sets up the threshold of what is acceptable as a minimum level of community engagement in Nottingham City and it provides guidance, tools and strategies to facilitate the engagement process during and beyond the planning stages.

Community engagement needs to begin as soon as there is an intention to submit a proposal for pre-application or planning permission, and must continue through the design process, setting up frameworks that allow communities to build upon the learnings of the process. Engagement shall create a culture of collaboration and trust, where all parties understand their limitations from the outset so that they can contribute according to their capacities and in relation to their roles.

Community Engagement Criteria

The following appraisal criteria applies for all stages of design:

1. Outreach & inclusion

This refers to how the events, surveys and other forms of engagement are advertised to reach out to all representative groups within the area.

2. Tools & strategies

This refers to how appropriate the communication methods and the running and operation of events are for the population in question, and how adequate tools are to obtain meaningful data that can inform the scheme.

3. Data collection & analysis

This refers to the data collected and its format, and how this is analysed to inform the scheme directly.

4. Community building

This refers to how the engagement process delivers social targets, enhances social networks and builds-up community resilience.

5. Engagement briefs

This section explains what is required from a Community Engagement Brief, what level of information is relevant, how detailed and accurate the supporting documents need to be and how applicants can illustrate the input of meaningful engagement on the design of the scheme.

6. Communication & follow up

This refers to the management of information during the process and once the data has been analysed, and how contact is maintained with the community throughout the project and beyond.