Adur & Worthing

Gaining community support for
temporary and emergency accommodation

Background

Adur & Worthing Councils identified three underused sites within their land portfolio that could be used to provide much needed temporary and emergency housing. By developing these brownfield sites they would save significant sums on renting temporary B&B accommodation and help solve the area’s housing crisis.

They wanted to ensure they were undertaking a comprehensive local engagement programme in line with their own Statement of Community Involvement and asked Silverstone Communications to lead on this.

Solution

To ensure the consultation programme was communicated effectively, we undertook an extensive mapping exercise.

We adopted a tiered approach to stakeholder engagement where we identified all relevant groups and individuals and made sure that our client was engaging with each group at the correct stage of the process. If we anticipated negative outcomes, we put crisis management protocols in place and closely monitored activity.

In addition to extensive stakeholder mapping, we managed the consultation by designing exhibition boards, managing relations with local media, and leading on engagement with ward and cabinet politicians.

Silverstone Communications also facilitated community liaison meetings which were widely attended by council officers, representatives from local service providers such as the police and neighbourhood teams and other relevant stakeholders.

Impact

Through a series of activities, we were able to demonstrate how by pulling together the right people with in-depth knowledge of a local area and its communities, it is possible to create innovative solutions.

The underused land provided for the needs of those who would otherwise have no accommodation while also making significant cost savings to the councils. The engagement programme we ran ensured all stakeholders understood the issues surrounding the crisis in temporary housing and how Adur & Worthing’s plans provided a solution.

Our thorough mapping and engagement process ensured we reached out to everyone in the stakeholder community.

“Their advice and professionalism was first class.”