Public participation in local plan consultations across the UK remains strikingly low, with responses amounting to just 0.56% of local authority populations, according to new analysis from the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The organisation has warned that unless engagement improves, efforts to reform the planning system could face growing public mistrust and resistance.
The findings accompany a new white paper, Communications in Planning: How Better Engagement Can Build Trust with Communities, published by the RTPI and its member magazine The Planner. The report argues that planning authorities must strengthen communication with residents and broaden participation beyond those who traditionally engage in formal planning consultations.
Research Highlights Limited Public Engagement in Planning
Most Residents Not Taking Part in Local Plan Consultations
The RTPI’s analysis suggests that the overwhelming majority of people are not participating in formal consultations that help shape the future of their communities.
Local plans influence a wide range of development decisions, including the location of new housing, schools, healthcare facilities, transport infrastructure, parks, town centres and employment sites. Despite their significance, written responses to consultations represent only a small fraction of local populations.
Researchers gathered consultation data from planning authorities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Where multiple consultation stages existed, the average number of written responses was calculated and compared with each authority’s estimated 2024 population.
The Institute noted that engagement figures were publicly available for nearly 74% of planning authorities, with the remaining authorities excluded where consultation data could not be reliably identified.
Public Confidence in the Planning System Remains Low
Previous Surveys Reveal Barriers to Participation
The latest findings build on earlier RTPI research conducted with YouGov, which found that 33% of the British public did not know how to become involved in the planning process, while 39% believed their participation would not influence decisions.
That survey also found that only 7% of respondents had previously engaged with the planning system.
However, the RTPI pointed to separate research undertaken by Demos, The MIMBY Majority, which found that 63% of people across the UK would support development if certain conditions were met, suggesting there is greater willingness to engage constructively than consultation figures alone might indicate.
Planning Reforms Could Increase the Need for Community Engagement
The Institute argues that upcoming planning reforms could make effective communication even more important.
Proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) are expected to require every local authority in England to adopt a local plan within 30 months. The RTPI believes larger strategic planning structures and additional spatial development strategies could make planning decisions appear more distant from local communities unless engagement improves.
Simon Creer, Director of Communications and Engagement at the RTPI, said:
“Planning, no matter where it is done, relies on proper communications and consultation. The public expect their voices to be heard. But there is an emerging feeling that planning is something that is done to people, not with them.
“There is a real risk that changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, as well as the additional layer of spatial development strategies, will add to this. The communities being consulted will be larger, the decisions more opaque and further away. Many people may not even be aware of which combined authority they are in, let alone be motivated enough to engage with planning at that level.
“Taken all together, we can see a system that will require more engagement, more communication and clearer explanation of what the system does and does not do. If we are to bring the more positively inclined communities along with us and make this system work, then there is a large job of work to be done.”
Experts Call for Earlier and More Meaningful Conversations
Traditional Consultations May Not Reach Local Communities
The report argues that planning authorities should move beyond conventional consultation exercises and instead create more accessible opportunities for residents to discuss the future of their neighbourhoods.
Robin Hutchinson, Director of The Community Brain CIC, said:
“I’m not sure we should be overly surprised by the low figures of engagement currently experienced through formal and traditional routes. The language used and approaches taken can be a turn off even when if it does come to people’s attention. Conversations need to be brokered earlier and in different ways so they are not directly linked to the need for specific responses.
“Create events and moments that allow people to talk openly about their area, their thoughts, concerns and hopes. Make space for them to tell their stories. You will find more insight and information from someone in this atmosphere than ever through a ‘consultation’. We are always delighted by how open and ambitious people can be about where they live.”
Conclusion
The RTPI says improving public engagement will be essential as planning reforms gather pace across England and the wider UK. With local plans set to play an increasingly important role in shaping communities, the Institute argues that clearer communication, earlier engagement and more inclusive consultation processes will be critical to building public trust and ensuring planning decisions reflect the views of the communities they affect.
George Orwell is a writer and contributor covering politics, society, culture, and current affairs. His work focuses on providing clear analysis and thoughtful commentary on the issues shaping modern Britain and the wider world, helping readers better understand complex topics.