Are you ready for the changes due as a result of the new Welsh Planning Bill?

Remarkable Engagement: Wales

Delivering results in stakeholder communications and public consultation during a period of change in the Welsh planning system

“ The problem with planning in Wales is the politics” At Remarkable, we understand that planning is not just a tick box exercise. There are many issues and influences on the planning system, and this is nowhere more prevalent than in Wales. Understanding the importance of external political influences on a planning regime is key - and devising strategies to cope with this even more so.

With the Planning Bill’s emphasis on frontloading the development management process, and the inclusion of a statutory requirement for pre-application consultation, Remarkable can provide its

clients with that extra degree of certainty, through devising and implementing effective communications strategies and consultation programmes, to engage, listen to and, where possible, bring local communities and decision makers on-side.

We will be monitoring all the twists and turns of the new legislation coming through on the Welsh planning system.

Sign up for our regular blogs and eshots, keeping you up to date with policy changes as a result of the emerging Welsh Planning Bill at:

www.remarkable-engagement.co.uk

It is a time of upheaval within the Welsh planning systemwith the imminent arrival of the new Planning (Wales) Bill, there is much uncertainty in the sector about what this means for Wales and how it will affect the delivery of new infrastructure and development. Based in Cardiff, and boasting an experienced team of engagement, public affairs and consultation specialists, we can guide you through these changes. We have extensive knowledge of Wales’s unique planning environment and a thorough understanding of the political relationships that shape it.

The Future of Engagement in WalesIn short, while pre-application public consultation used to be a ‘nice to have’, with the new legislation as a result of the Planning (Wales) Bill, it is now a necessity. As accredited partners of the Consultation Institute, we are experts in knowing what constitutes best practice consultation – a vital attribute in a changing planning system.

CONSULTING THE RIGHT AUDIENCE By identifying and involving key local opinion formers as well as the wider community at an early stage, we are able to make a real difference. The local knowledge and existing contacts that we have built up will prove invaluable when developing your schemes and helping them to progress smoothly through a changing planning process.

INTELLIGENCE Knowing how decision-makers in different areas think and what they need in order to make positive decisions is key to our regional success. It’s this insider knowledge, ability to tailor messages, knowledge of existing and emerging planning policy and influencing skills which sets us apart from our competitors. Our experience covers a unique mix of sectors and high profile planning proposals from strategic land allocations, residential development and renewable energy schemes to large scale nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Paul Teverson, Head of Public Affairs and Public Relations, McCarthy & Stone:

“ I’m pleased with Remarkable’s performance, noting some great successes in overturning officer recommendations for refusal, as well as increased media coverage. Thank you for your hard work and I look forward to working with you long into the future!”

SUPPORTER MOBILISATIONDevelopers often feel public consultation simply provides a focus for opposition, or merely ‘ticks a box’. We see it as a way to identify support, but it often requires teasing out – after all, those who come to your events usually have concerns or are outright opposed. Identifying support is just the start; we pride ourselves in converting that support to lobby decision makers.

George Brown, Property Director, Aldi Stores:

“ The team at Remarkable provides an invaluable resource for engaging and motivating key stakeholders and members of the local community to understand and support our proposals for new stores.”

Introducing Remarkable PendragonIn November Remarkable Group announced the acquisition of Pendragon Public Relations, one of the UK’s leading infrastructure and energy stakeholder consultation businesses, to create Remarkable Pendragon.

The creation of Remarkable Pendragon positions our team at the forefront of stakeholder consultation for the property, waste management, utility, infrastructure and energy sectors.

MEET the TEAM

Laura Wyatt Associate Director

Laura oversees the South West and Wales region, having successfully developed consultation strategies that have helped achieve consent for many of Remarkable’s clients. Having been in the industry for ten years, she has extensive experience in delivering consultation and public affairs strategies across numerous sectors, including retirement, retail, landed estates and residential.

With an extensive engagement background, Laura can steer projects through complex environments, analysing the political and community situation, engaging stakeholders and putting a strong emphasis on supporter motivation – providing backing for her clients which delivers tangible benefits. Heading up one of Remarkable’s leading national housebuilder clients, Laura has driven forward changes in their consultation strategies which continue to see an impressive rise in the client’s number of first time local level planning consents.

William Morgan Senior Account Manager

Having worked right across Wales, Will has experience of a diverse range of planning issues, and heads up the Remarkable Wales team in Cardiff. He has developed and managed complicated consultation programmes and provided stakeholder engagement, political and community liaison and media relations advice for high profile, controversial projects including a number of difficult residential, waste, energy, regeneration and infrastructure projects across the region.

These include managing a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) for an international wind developer in mid-Wales, numerous residential developments and strategic land allocation projects for some of the top national housebuilders, a controversial surface mining scheme, and a proposed new reservoir.

Jamie GordonDirector of Infrastructure and Energy, Remarkable Pendragon

Jamie heads up Remarkable Pendragon, the arm of Remarkable Group focused on delivering communications advice and engagement support for energy and infrastructure schemes. Jamie has successfully developed and implemented community relations strategies in Wales, having undertaken work on large scale projects such as the Milford Haven Gas Connection, the largest gas pipeline to be built in the UK since the 1960s. He has also helped gain local planning consent for a number of facilities in Wales including gas pressure reduction stations at Cilfrew and Felindre and a new 400kV substation, also at Felindre.

His engagement strategies have helped clients minimise project delays by reassuring stakeholders, dealing with protestor activity and negative publicity. He also has experience in building community links through developing community initiative schemes.

To find out how we can help you contact Lee Richards on 029 2167 0468

remarkable-engagement.co.uk@Rem_Engagement

Remarkable GroupSophia House28 Cathedral RoadCardiffCF11 9 LJ

Printed on 100% recycled paper

Part of the Remarkable Group

MEET the TEAM

Richard BowenAccount Director, Remarkable Pendragon

Richard is a stakeholder engagement specialist with particular expertise in politics, planning, energy and environment. He maintains excellent contacts throughout various levels of government, industry, media and politics.

Richard has recently managed development consent order (DCO) stakeholder engagement and media work on behalf of the White Rose Carbon Capture and Storage Project in North Yorkshire and has worked on other successful energy sector project consents, including the 1,000MW Damhead Creek 2 power station proposal, two 300MW biomass plants and a number of wind farms.

Previously, Richard has edited political and public sector magazine titles in Westminster, managed the website for the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and worked for leading global marketing agency McCann-Erickson.

Hadleigh RobertsAccount Executive

Hadleigh was schooled in North Wales and grew up on the Wrexham/Shropshire border. He has a background in foreign languages as an interpreter/translator, backing up extensive experience in politics right across Europe, including the office of a Welsh Labour MEP.

He worked in local and regional government in France before translating François Hollande’s manifesto for the 2012 Presidential Campaign. On his return to the United Kingdom, he was selected as a candidate for the European Parliament in 2014 and is a frequent speaker at international political conferences.