Aylesbury Masterplan Community Consultation
Urban Initiatives engaged Quatro to support consultation activities surrounding the preparation of an Area Action Plan (AAP) for the 285,000sqm Aylesbury Estate and surrounding areas in south London, which will form part of Southwark Council’s Local Development Framework.
Quatro provided specialist consultation support in the engagement of the community and general public during the Issues and Options Stage in November 2007 and the Preferred Options Stage in April 2008.
The Aylesbury Estate is considered one of the most notorious housing estates in the UK, and was the site of Tony Blair's first speech as Prime Minister in 1997. Two years later the estate was awarded New Deal for Communities status. A tenant ballot was held on transfer to a housing association which was rejected by 73% of the tenants on a 73% turnout. In 2005, the London Borough of Southwark decided on demolition and rebuild as the way forward.
Many of the residents understandably have a high degree of consultation fatigue, over the past decade, which we needed to overcome. The strategy for refreshing local interest and engagement proposed a range of techniques designed to reach all sections of the Aylesbury’s diverse communities.
Large-Scale Public Events
Issues and Options Exhibition (November 2007) and Preferred Options Exhibition (April 2008) aimed to attract a high number of residents, while making sure that people who had previously not attended did so. The aim was also to attract a representative cross section of people including hard to reach groups. Quatro:
• Provided specialist support and creative ideas to reach and involve hard to reach groups
• Assisted the council with the organisation of the public events; from women only sessions to family fundays and eco-rickshaws
• Advised on exhibition and newsletter content and presentation
• Compiled stakeholder databases
• Comprehensive copywriting, assisting with sourcing and liaison of images, and coordinating comments and input from professional team
• Ran a series of briefing sessions – including a presentation session and a detailed Q&A
• Event managed all events ensuring smooth running
• Participated in explaining exhibition content
• Ran children’s drawing workshop
Special Viewings, Information Station and On-site Surgeries
Designed to target hard to reach groups, these took the form of women only sessions, translated sessions, pizza nights, tea and cake, film screenings, a stall in East Street market, an Information Station and regular on-site evening surgeries and much more! Quatro:
• Provided creative ideas
• Raised awareness, promoted and managed bookings
• Event managed all events ensuring smooth running
• Participated in explaining exhibition content
Monitoring
Quatro ensured event objectives were met by:
• Designing of response collection system and questionnaire
• Collecting, monitoring and evaluating responses
• Assessing respondents’ profile
• Producing a perception audit of the consultation at the end of each stage
• Producing two consultation reports forming part of the SCI
OUTSTANDING RESULTS
• Participation increased 38%
• 70% response rate from questionnaires
• 32% non Aylesbury residents participated, indicating engagement with the wider impacted community
• 11% engagement rate with 16-24 year olds, up from almost zero
• Mix of attendees reflected the areas diverse make-up
• 77% said as a result of the exhibition they knew more about what is happening
• 85% said the event was useful/interesting
• More than three quarters of respondents (78%) agreed that the proposals represented the best way forward for the redevelopment of the estate
How Quatro Can Help You
Quatro brings together individuals with a wide range of specialist skills, hands-on experience and contacts – all gained within the property, planning and regeneration sector.
Our services include:
* Political and stakeholder audits
* Public consultation programmes
* Public affairs management
* Brand positioning and marketing
* Media relations
For more information, contact Louise Rodgers on 020 7566 7966.
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