The Big Idea
Implement a successful public consultation campaign
Rumpus was asked by long-term client, Watson, to manage a full public consultation campaign for Creams Mill & Hall Lane plans in Little Lever, a major new affordable housing development and regeneration of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. Due to coronavirus restrictions, the consultation was taken online – a first for Watson.
Approach
What we did...
We implemented a robust communications and digital strategy for the online public consultation, working with the planning team throughout the process
- Prepared a full engagement strategy for an online public consultation, a new phenomenon for the industry.
- Developed a website to act as the hub for the Creams Mill and Hall Lane plans.
- Created and publicised an online questionnaire, hosted on the development website to gather public feedback and inform the final planning application.
- Evaluated quantitative and qualitative data and produced a Statement of Community Involvement, in line with planning application requirements.
- Issued press releases to local, regional and trade press, and booked print advertising in the Bolton News, the main local newspaper.
- Produced marketing collateral and organised a COVID-safe leaflet drop for residents who couldn’t access the information online.
Key results include:
- Secured coverage in key titles, including Bolton News, Manchester Evening News and key trade press.
- Analysed all questionnaire responses and collated a database of 129 fully engaged residents to be kept updated throughout the development lifecycle.
- All PR activity formed a core part of the Statement of Community Involvement, a vital element of the planning application.
