Upload
richard-astle
View
114
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
pr & marketing internal communication community engagement
CASE STUDYLark Energy
Athene helps Lark Energy deliver solar farms during turbulent times
25 Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1JL tel: 01733 207340 email: [email protected] web: www.athene-communications.co.uk
Fast-tracked understanding of the area
We conducted a Community Audit for each of the proposed locations, providing:• anunderstandingofthemake-upoflocal
communities,• thelocalpolicyandpoliticalframework,• theneedsandambitionsoflocal
communities.
Thisunderstandingofthebuiltandsocialfabricofthelocalarea,localpoliciesandthepoliticalsituation,aswellasnearbyfacilitiesandamenities,wasusedtoformulateaclearstrategytoallowustoengagecommunitiesabouttheproposedsolarfarms.
Invaluable insights
Keylocalstakeholderswereengagedinameaningfulwayattheearliestpossiblestageof the development process. This dialogue rangedfromfacetofacemeetingswithstakeholdersandpotentialobjectorsthroughtopublicexhibitions.
Thisapproach,alongwiththeCommunityAudit,providedinvaluableinsightintoeach
area.LarkEnergywasequippedwiththeinformationneededtoassembletheproposedschemesinawayandtoatimetablethatbestsuitedthelocalcommunityandotherinfluentialstakeholders.
Atheneformedakeypartoftheprojectteam,workingcloselywiththeclientaswellasthethree professional planning consultants that wereappointed:BartonWillmore,DLPandLDADesign.
Engaging communities in a meaningful way
Inourexperienceanopenapproachtopublicconsultation,wherelocalfeedbackhelpsto shape development, means that specific concernscanbeidentifiedattheearlieststagewithfarfewersurprisesforadeveloperandmoretailoredbenefitsforlocalcommunities.
WeworkedcloselywithLarkEnergytoplananddeliverafullprogrammeofpublicevents.Foreachareawe:• developedacommunicationsstrategyfor
the proposed development • createdacomprehensivestakeholder
database• metwithkeylocalstakeholders
• deliveredpublicexhibitioneventsincludingcoordinating effective communication materials
• collectingandevaluatingfeedback
Planning submission:
ThisworkculminatedinproducingtheStatement of Community Involvement for all the proposed development sites. This document included:• methodologyandapproachfollowedto
engagewiththecommunity• executivesummaryfromtheCommunity
Auditwithasynopsisofthelocalsituationfrom residents to local politics
• detailsastohowthelocalcommunityhadbeenmeaningfullyconsultedandengaged
• resultsoftheexhibitionevent• issuesandpossiblemitigationsfound
throughthepublicexhibitions• communitybenefitswhichLarkEnergy
have proposed for the local area
The result:
FollowingacentralgovernmentreviewoftheFeed-In-TariffthatsupportedsolarfarmsintheUK,therewasarequirementto
acceleratetheproposedprogrammeofpublicengagement for the proposed sites. All the programmes of engagement including formal StatementsofCommunityInvolvementweredeliveredwithinonemonth,whilstmeetingallstatutory targets and maintaining the ongoing support of communities.
Feedbackregardingtheexhibitionsshowedthat 93% of respondents (averaged across the sites) stated the event enhanced their understandingoftheproposalwith82%ratingtheeventasexcellent.
ThefasttracknatureofthesesolarfarmshascontinuedfollowingthegrantingofplanningpermissionwithAtheneprovidinglocalmediaandstakeholdersupporttoLarkEnergythroughout.ThefollowingsolarfarmsarethosethathavebeenconnectedtotheNational Grid and supplying clean electricity suppliedbythesun:Ellough,Stradishall,Hawton,Whittlesey,Bourne,MarstonandWymeswoldwithSouthCreakeontrackforconnectionbytheendof2013.PlanningapplicationshavebeensubmittedforWellingboroughandHartwell.
“Atheneworkedcloselywithusfromthevery early stages through to the granting of planning permissions. We particularly appreciated their fast speed of response, their eyefordetail,andtheirextensiveexperiencein this field.
“Thelocalinsightsprovidedtotheproject
team through Athene’s Community Audit provedinvaluable,andthebenefitofhavinga clear strategy for approaching community engagementforeachsitewasanessentialpart of our success. Athene’s support set us apart from other developers trying to do a similarthing–thebeltsandbracesapproachmeantthatweanticipatedtheissuesbefore
theyaroseandsubsequentlyenjoyedasmoother planning process.
“Whenissueswereraisedbylocalpeople–rangingfromthecolourofafenceorrequestforaprivateroadsign,tomajorconcernssuch as the impact of construction traffic –theyweremanagedearlyandeffectively.
ThevalueaddedbyAtheneindemonstratingabestpracticeapproachtocommunityengagementmakesthemanidealpartnerfora developer.”
Managing Director for Lark Energy, Jonathan Selwyn
Lark Energy