Local Plan Review, West Berkshire

Location: West Berkshire
Client: West Berkshire Council
Services: Local Plan engagement, statutory consultation design, stakeholder management 

​

Overview

West Berkshire Council engaged founder, Rowan Cole to lead engagement for its Local Plan Review, ensuring the process was open, legally robust, and responsive to the needs of a geographically diverse and predominantly rural population.

Context and challenges

​

The district faces unique pressures: housing need, landscape sensitivity, the AONB, and strong local interest in development locations. The Local Plan Review required a transparent approach that could bring residents, landowners, developers and councillors into a unified conversation.

​

Challenges included

• Communicating planning policy in a way that resonated with both rural and urban communities

• Managing high levels of interest from land promoters and local groups

• Ensuring statutory consultations fully met the legal expectations under the Localism Act and NPPF

• Providing confidence to elected members during a period of political change

​

Our role

Rowan provided experienced direction across:

• Consultation strategy design for both statutory and non-statutory engagement

• Preparation of consultation materials, presentations and interactive content

• Facilitating discussions with parish councils, community groups, development interests and statutory stakeholders

• Advising on risk, messaging and the legal framework underpinning the consultation

• Ensuring alignment between officers, communications teams and political leadership

​

Outcomes

• A legally sound, well-governed consultation programme that supported the Council through intensive scrutiny

• Improved understanding among communities of how planning policy decisions are made

• Stronger working relationships between the planning authority, parishes and development sector

• A clear evidence base demonstrating how feedback shaped the refinement of key policies