ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to enable those involved to better understand the changes. Since the start of the twenty-first century, social changes have impacted extensively and considerably on community involvement. The chapter addresses changing levels of involvement in planning and determine how, or whether, people wish to be consulted – enabling planners, developers and local authorities to create effective strategies for involvement. Communities of interest are perhaps at their strongest and most eloquent when they gather collate to form a single-issue or direct action group. The advent of corporate social responsibility (CSR), which first became enshrined in law from late 1990s, the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Local Government Act 1995 formally accepted the increased importance of dialogue with consumers and responsibility to both local communities and society at large. To run a successful involvement programme, developers, local authorities and planning consultants must be aware of changing structures in society, changing means of communication and changing attitudes towards community involvement.
