06 – Democratic Planning Participation Portfolio (DPP) 🗳️

🎯 Objective

To ensure that public consultation in planning is meaningful, accessible, and democratically legitimate — not procedural or tokenistic. DPP empowers citizens to participate with clarity, confidence, and traceable impact, transforming planning from an expert-controlled process into a shared civic space.

🧒 Policy D1 – Youth-Led Plain Language Planning Literacy Initiative

What it does:
Creates a national programme where local authorities partner with:

  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Youth councils

Together, they co-produce plain-language versions of key planning processes and concepts. These resources are then shared widely across communities — especially among groups often excluded from planning discourse.

How it works:

  • Youth teams are mentored by local planning officers or RTPI volunteers.
  • Outputs may include:
    • Leaflets (e.g. What is a planning application?)
    • Short videos or animations
    • Infographics for material vs non-material objections
  • “Planning Cafés” hosted by youth teams offer drop-in civic explainer sessions.
  • Best materials are published nationally via a web platform with open-source access.

Why it’s needed:

Most planning documents are opaque, and the public (especially younger generations and renters) are disengaged as a result. This initiative builds lifelong civic confidence, while improving community understanding in real time.

International Analogy:

  • Scotland and Finland embed youth-led planning literacy into participatory budgeting.
  • Barcelona runs Urban School to educate citizens on their rights in city planning.

🧾 Policy D2 – Structured Consultation Format for Material Relevance

What it does:
Standardises public consultation forms to guide residents in submitting legally relevant (material) comments, such as:

  • Traffic impact
  • Flood risk
  • Visual design

And to distinguish these from non-material objections, such as:

  • Developer reputation
  • House price concerns

Why it’s needed:
Many objections are technically valid but procedurally ignored. Structured forms help the public comment effectively, and ensure their views carry legal weight.

International Analogy:
Ireland’s An Bord Pleanála publishes public guides on submitting effective planning objections and distinguishing relevance.

🔁 Policy D3 – Consultation Feedback Traceability & Planning Impact Matrix

What it does:
Requires LPAs to publish a Consultation Impact Matrix summarising:

  • What issues were raised
  • Which were deemed material
  • What impact they had on the final report or outcome

Why it’s needed:
Public feedback often disappears into a black box. This policy creates feedback traceability — showing where and how the public voice mattered.

International Analogy:

  • The Netherlands and Denmark publish structured response logs that trace public comments to formal decisions.

📨 Policy D4 – Civic Inclusion & Notification Rights Protocol

What it does:
Expands statutory notification rights to include:

  • Renters
  • Schools and healthcare providers
  • Local charities or community interest companies (CICs)
  • Residents with significant functional, not just geographic, proximity

Why it’s needed:
Current law only requires notifying adjacent landowners, excluding key local users. This change ensures informed consent, not just procedural compliance.

International Analogy:
Canadian cities notify tenants, community groups, and service organisations for all significant applications.

📘 Summary

The Democratic Planning Participation Portfolio (DPP) transforms planning from a technical silo into a civic dialogue. By introducing plain language, structured consultation tools, traceable feedback, and broader inclusion, DPP ensures that the public is not just allowed to speak — but empowered to shape outcomes. It gives voice to those long excluded and brings legitimacy to every stage of the planning process.