pr & marketing internal communication community engagement

CASE STUDYLark Energy

Athene helps Lark Energy deliver solar farms during turbulent times

25 Priestgate, Peterborough PE1 1JL tel: 01733 207340 email: mail@athene-communications.co.uk web: www.athene-communications.co.uk

Fast-tracked understanding of the area

We conducted a Community Audit for each of the proposed locations, providing:• anunderstandingofthemake-upoflocal

communities,• thelocalpolicyandpoliticalframework,• theneedsandambitionsoflocal

communities.

Thisunderstandingofthebuiltandsocialfabricofthelocalarea,localpoliciesandthepoliticalsituation,aswellasnearbyfacilitiesandamenities,wasusedtoformulateaclearstrategytoallowustoengagecommunitiesabouttheproposedsolarfarms.

Invaluable insights

Keylocalstakeholderswereengagedinameaningfulwayattheearliestpossiblestageof the development process. This dialogue rangedfromfacetofacemeetingswithstakeholdersandpotentialobjectorsthroughtopublicexhibitions.

Thisapproach,alongwiththeCommunityAudit,providedinvaluableinsightintoeach

area.LarkEnergywasequippedwiththeinformationneededtoassembletheproposedschemesinawayandtoatimetablethatbestsuitedthelocalcommunityandotherinfluentialstakeholders.

Atheneformedakeypartoftheprojectteam,workingcloselywiththeclientaswellasthethree professional planning consultants that wereappointed:BartonWillmore,DLPandLDADesign.

Engaging communities in a meaningful way

Inourexperienceanopenapproachtopublicconsultation,wherelocalfeedbackhelpsto shape development, means that specific concernscanbeidentifiedattheearlieststagewithfarfewersurprisesforadeveloperandmoretailoredbenefitsforlocalcommunities.

WeworkedcloselywithLarkEnergytoplananddeliverafullprogrammeofpublicevents.Foreachareawe:• developedacommunicationsstrategyfor

the proposed development • createdacomprehensivestakeholder

database• metwithkeylocalstakeholders

• deliveredpublicexhibitioneventsincludingcoordinating effective communication materials

• collectingandevaluatingfeedback

Planning submission:

ThisworkculminatedinproducingtheStatement of Community Involvement for all the proposed development sites. This document included:• methodologyandapproachfollowedto

engagewiththecommunity• executivesummaryfromtheCommunity

Auditwithasynopsisofthelocalsituationfrom residents to local politics

• detailsastohowthelocalcommunityhadbeenmeaningfullyconsultedandengaged

• resultsoftheexhibitionevent• issuesandpossiblemitigationsfound

throughthepublicexhibitions• communitybenefitswhichLarkEnergy

have proposed for the local area

The result:

FollowingacentralgovernmentreviewoftheFeed-In-TariffthatsupportedsolarfarmsintheUK,therewasarequirementto

acceleratetheproposedprogrammeofpublicengagement for the proposed sites. All the programmes of engagement including formal StatementsofCommunityInvolvementweredeliveredwithinonemonth,whilstmeetingallstatutory targets and maintaining the ongoing support of communities.

Feedbackregardingtheexhibitionsshowedthat 93% of respondents (averaged across the sites) stated the event enhanced their understandingoftheproposalwith82%ratingtheeventasexcellent.

ThefasttracknatureofthesesolarfarmshascontinuedfollowingthegrantingofplanningpermissionwithAtheneprovidinglocalmediaandstakeholdersupporttoLarkEnergythroughout.ThefollowingsolarfarmsarethosethathavebeenconnectedtotheNational Grid and supplying clean electricity suppliedbythesun:Ellough,Stradishall,Hawton,Whittlesey,Bourne,MarstonandWymeswoldwithSouthCreakeontrackforconnectionbytheendof2013.PlanningapplicationshavebeensubmittedforWellingboroughandHartwell.

“Atheneworkedcloselywithusfromthevery early stages through to the granting of planning permissions. We particularly appreciated their fast speed of response, their eyefordetail,andtheirextensiveexperiencein this field.

“Thelocalinsightsprovidedtotheproject

team through Athene’s Community Audit provedinvaluable,andthebenefitofhavinga clear strategy for approaching community engagementforeachsitewasanessentialpart of our success. Athene’s support set us apart from other developers trying to do a similarthing–thebeltsandbracesapproachmeantthatweanticipatedtheissuesbefore

theyaroseandsubsequentlyenjoyedasmoother planning process.

“Whenissueswereraisedbylocalpeople–rangingfromthecolourofafenceorrequestforaprivateroadsign,tomajorconcernssuch as the impact of construction traffic –theyweremanagedearlyandeffectively.

ThevalueaddedbyAtheneindemonstratingabestpracticeapproachtocommunityengagementmakesthemanidealpartnerfora developer.”

Managing Director for Lark Energy, Jonathan Selwyn

Lark Energy