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Case Studies

Handling public scrutiny on mixed use development

We took very special PR care over the public consultation surrounding regeneration of Lincolnshire’s largest industrial complex.

Sleaford Maltings

  • Sell out public consultation
  • Front page lead  in Sleaford Standard
  • Successful partnership working with Tesco and local authority
"Hopwood's knowledge of the media and their absolute professionalism contributed to the success of our consultation event."
Rosie Fraser, Prince's Regeneration Trust

Sustainable developer Gladedale Special Projects and consultants The Prince’s Regeneration Trust demanded special care for the sensitive  redevelopment of the specatacular Grade II listed building complex Sleaford Maltings.

The proposal for apartments and mixed use was linked for planning purposes (and in the minds of local people and media) with controversial neighbouring developments. These were a new superstore Tesco, another major housing development by a different developer and Lincolnshire County Council’s plans for a controversial new road and bridge to facilitate all of the schemes.

hopwood led on the public consultation exercise, involving all parties, including Tesco and both councils. Briefings with the local press majored on the pressing need to develop the historic and beautiful Maltings buildings (which tower over the town) or risk losing them to creeping ruination. This approach resulted in very substantial positive coverage. The campaign also involved advertising, household leafleting, brochures, PowerPoint presentations, two web sites, one with an interactive form to gather public views (promoting and unveiling the plans), and gathering and reporting on data.

"This is a development that attracted really intense public interest, and we relied on hopwood to manage all aspects of the public consultation, including liaising with the local authority and our heritage advisors, The Prince's Regeneration Trust. The hopwood team managed the event really well, from the first planning meeting to collating and reporting on the results. They achieved really positive media coverage around the event, and we were delighted by the public's response to the whole process, including the display materials, literature and website that hopwood created for us."

 - Simon Noonan-Cocks, Development Manager, Gladedale Special Projects, sustainable developers