Written by Eleanor Monk

Statista reported only 60% of registered eligible voters turned out on poling day, narrowly beating the 59.4% turn out in 2001. Looking deeper, the Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) found that turnout was even lower when accounting for the whole population, with just over half – 52% – of all eligible people in the UK casting their vote. This makes the UK’s 2024 General Election the lowest voter turnout on record, since the vote was extended in 1928.

Delving into the details

• 11% increase in turnout in constituencies with higher proportions of 64+ year-olds
• 13% increase in constituencies with the higher proportions of homeowners
• 7% lower turnout in constituencies with larger ethnic minority populations
• 10% lower in constituencies with larger proportion of Muslim populations

Turnout can often vary depending on demographics and differences between communities. With this in mind, a one-size-fits all approach cannot be applied to resolve these multifaceted issues. Multiple unique and creative measures must be taken to deal with the various reasons behind these low rates.

At Kanda we too are constantly striving to improve local engagement and in particular tap into younger demographics who have important views that can often be overlooked.

Yes, it is often factors such as language, age, and physical or digital accessibility barriers that alienate people from the consultation process. We work to overcome these in a similar way to IPPR recommendations by removing barriers which prevent communities from engaging.

We seek to establish a wide range of engagement channels including in-person exhibition events, pop-ups, door knocking and coffee groups, which can be supported by online platforms like websites, virtual exhibitions, webinars and targeted social media promotion.

However, sometimes the issues with encouraging engagement are more nuanced. We need to ensure communities understand the true scope of influence they have over the design process. It is often feelings of disenfranchisement or seemingly disingenuous past consultation experiences that create a loss of trust with developers and the planning process, leaving many uninterested in engaging.

These barriers are arguably harder to overcome, as people are actively deciding not to engage.

In these cases, it’s important to work to engage early, to allow time to establish trust and set transparent parameters for influence. We need to enfranchise people to get involved by demonstrating the worth of their participation.

By approaching each scheme and each community with a unique and relevant engagement plan, the turnout challenges explained above, and those mirrored in the recent General Election, can be overcome.

Each project has a unique set of stakeholders, defined by a combination of lived experience and demography, which make people more or less inclined to engage with the consultation process. For every one of these, we must work hard to understand the nuances of local communities and ensure our approach to engagement and consultation is targeted and fit for purpose.

Engaging early, 105 Victoria Street

Touted for its exemplary consultation in Westminster’s Early Community Engagement guidance document, 105 Victoria Streetprioritised engaging early in order to establish trust between the developer and local community, helping to develop a shared vision for the future of the site.

Before even developing the design brief, the team carried out extensive polling of more than 500 properties, supported by an early engagement forum workshop and a pop-up consultation event, to gain a very early understanding of peoples’ perceptions of the site, what it is was lacking and should deliver in future.

Undertaking community engagement at the earliest stage, and front footing difficult conversations at the outset helped to establish trust and promoted meaningful dialogue, which ultimately ensured that the finalised scheme was designed to meet the genuine current and future needs of residents, workers and visitors in this specific part of the of the city.

Amplifying the seldom heard, Earl’s Court Masterplan

Recognising the long and much debated history of the redevelopment of Earl’s Court, we supported a proactive, design-led engagement programme to involve a wide range of local people in meaningful and constructive conversations.

In support of more traditional consultation and engagement activities, Kanda managed 27 community masterplan workshops, attended by a diverse group of up to 35 local people at each workshop. Workshops explored a wide range of topics, from ‘What is wonder?’, to ‘Beauty in architecture?’ and ‘Loneliness in the city’.

Workshops have helped to develop skills within the group so they can understand and engage with the complex challenges presented through the masterplan; and together, work to ensure new spaces meet the needs of local people in the short and long term.

Meeting regularly and circling back to reflect on how the project has worked to deliver the vision and priorities of these groups has ensured that members of the local community feel heard and feel they are making an ongoing and worthwhile contribution to both the design and delivery of the Earl’s Court Masterplan.

Early and ongoing engagement and education around the planning and delivery process has resulted in the proposed masterplan being well received, demonstrating how community members can regain confidence in the planning system and enfranchised to get involved which consultation is done in a genuine and meaningful way.

As communities continue to evolve and diversify, it’s more important than ever to ensure that we take the time to understand and respond to the nuances that make each community unique. Empowering local people to engage with new developments is a constant challenge, and just like the new Labour government, we’ll be taking active steps to overcome this, to ensure local and often underrepresented voices are heard.