Welcome back to Engage from Delib.
As we approach the middle of the year, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on what we’ve achieved in the world of public engagement, and what’s on the near horizon…
This month, millions of people around the world are celebrating the Summer Solstice (or Winter Solstice for our Southern Hemisphere readers) and taking to the streets to celebrate Pride. It’s a time for celebrations and coming together as a community.
Here at Delib, we recently hosted a User Group session in Covent Garden. It connected engagement experts who work in the field daily with our engineers who build tools like Citizen Space and Dialogue. You can read all about it on our blog, which has some handy links to new product features and customer insights.
Customer insights and inspiration:
New Zealand Releases Ambitious Housebuilding Plan; Public Asked for Views
New Zealand is one of the toughest places in the world for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder, and it’s prompting a serious national debate on the topic.
Since 2018, non-residents have been banned from buying homes, in a bid to discourage property speculation. However, this hasn’t addressed the root cause of affordability – the low supply of new homes. Recently the issue has become even worse, with house prices soaring by around 30% during the pandemic. Although the market is now starting to thaw, record numbers of young Kiwis are leaving the country in search of better economic opportunities.
In response, the New Zealand government launched a new programme called ‘Going for Housing Growth’ in 2024. This consists of three pillars:
- Pillar 1: Reform of the planning system to free up more land for development
- Pillar 2: A wide new package of infrastructure funding
- Pillar 3: A $1 billion incentive fund for councils that deliver the most new homes
Land use is a complex topic with many competing interests – e.g. homeowners, renters, property developers, and conservationists may all have nuanced views on how policy should be shaped. This can make it tricky for one party, such as the government, to wade in and introduce reforms that are both effective and democratic.
Everyone should have a fair say, and that’s exactly what the latest Citizen Space consultation on this topic is hoping to achieve. The New Zealand government is asking the public what they think of several key points – such as where rural-urban boundaries should be drawn, what minimum building heights could be introduced, or how to improve environmental gain. It’s a wide-reaching activity with 37 set questions, but it’s broken down into simple chapters with plenty of info and resources. Plus, respondents have the option of only answering questions that truly interest them.
If you live in New Zealand and want to take part in this national conversation, be sure to leave your response by the 17th August.
Kensington and Chelsea Re-Examines Street Design
The London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has launched several public consultations on street design changes that could make the area safer and more attractive for residents.
In Elm Park Gardens and Grenville Place, they propose planting new trees to transform the residential areas into leafy neighbourhoods. This follows guidance in the NPPF, which recognises that trees contribute to the character and quality of urban areas and can help mitigate against the effects of climate change. For instance, providing shade at the street-level and helping with rainwater drainage. On the busier Ladbroke Square, the council proposes a series of road humps as a traffic-calming measure. Clear maps show residents exactly where roadworks would take place, and text explains the justifications for their layout and form – such as using a shallower shape to reduce noise.
Meanwhile, five consultations focus on parking changes across dozens of residential streets, including new disabled bays, resident’s areas, and clearer road markings. Proposals include designating ‘School Streets’, where traffic would be restricted during the morning rush. Finally, traffic regulations around Olympia Exhibition Centre are being reconsidered ahead of the opening of a new music venue, theatre, and restaurants at the end of 2025.
Behind every proposal is the recognition that local people know their area best, and that meaningful consultation can improve street design for everyone. And, with the recent introduction of Digital Traffic Regulation Orders, it’s the perfect time for councils to use a JSON-compatible geospatial tool like Citizen Space to publicise local traffic changes online.
Wolverhampton Seeks Feedback on Pride Celebrations
Pride Month has returned and it’s bringing music and celebrations to thousands of towns and cities around the world. In Wolverhampton, the festivities this year were bigger and better than ever before – with a Pride Plaza in the city centre where music acts took to the stage. One organiser described the event as vital for the LGBT community in remaining visual and represented, as reported in BBC news.
Now, Wolverhampton City Council is asking residents for feedback on how next year’s Pride could be improved even more. They’re keen to know what people thought of the main plaza’s location, the parade route, amenities, and how accessible and safe it felt. The consultation runs until 23rd June and everyone is warmly encouraged to share their ideas.
Birmingham to Strengthen Clean Air Protections
Birmingham is famed as one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution, with dense chimney stacks that once spewed soot and smoke into the sky. The pollution was so bad, that writer JRR Tolkien even compared the factories of the West Midlands to “like being in Mordor”!
Of course, things have changed and Birmingham’s urban landscape is rapidly changing again – this time in a greener way. In 2022, the council approved a City of Nature Plan that will deliver 400 additional parks, cleaner waterways, and sustainable urban food production.
On top of this, Birmingham is also keen to improve its air quality in line with the Environment Act of 2021. Currently, Smoke Control Zones prohibit the burning of coal within city limits, but there are some key exceptions that make air pollution a continuing problem.
In a recent consultation, the council proposes a new Smoke Control Order to apply to woodburners and open fireplaces in people’s homes. In short, residents would need to use fuel types that don’t produce harmful fumes. This order would also apply to canal barges that aren’t covered by existing policy. It’s hoped this will prevent asthma cases and pulmonary infections, and make Birmingham a greener, more pleasant city to live in.
We all breathe the same air, so this is something you’re bound to have an opinion on. Get in touch by the 21st August to help shape Birmingham’s clean air journey and make your voice count.
Industry and legislative news:
Chancellor Launches National Housing Bank in England
On the 11th June, Chancellor Rachel Reeves set out the 2025 Spending Review for the UK. This directed more money than projected towards defence, healthcare, research – and among other things – social housing. In fact, councils are set to be allocated £3.9bn per year until 2036, up from £2.3bn currently.
Another announcement is the creation of a new National Housing Bank. This would be a publicly owned financier of housing developments, aimed at leveraging £53 billion in private investment. The idea is that the bank would lend some money to developers, particularly SMEs, to help them bring forward housing projects and grow their capabilities faster. It’s hoped this will help the UK reach its housing target of 300,000 new homes per year, and make the sector more attractive to investors.
London City Hall Releases Consultation Report on Oxford Street Transformation
The Mayor of London has pressed ahead with plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street as soon as possible. This is part of a wider vision to “establish it as a global leader for shopping, leisure and outdoor events with a world-class, accessible, pedestrianised avenue”.
Following a public consultation which attracted over 6000 responses, the London Assembly has now released the full findings in a consultation report. We’ve summarised some of the most interesting findings:
- Overall, a majority of respondents supported the scheme. 36% of respondents were entirely positive, with a further 33% supportive if certain conditions are met.
- 86% of responses were collected online – suggesting a considerable user preference for the accessibility and ease of digital consultation tools.
- By far the largest email campaign came from the London Cycling lobby, which supported an east-west cycle route in addition to the pedestrianisation. The report concluded that an assessment of all options would be undertaken, such as working with Local Boroughs to deliver an alternative route.
- The largest opposing lobby were taxi drivers, who would no longer be able to bring customers door-to-door, creating accessibility issues for disabled people. The report concluded that these impacts could be acceptably balanced with the introduction of dedicated drop-off and pick-up areas.