Hart Local Plan 2044 Engagement Strategy - What did you tell us about being engaged in the Local Plan process?

From May – June 2026 we undertook a Scoping Consultation on the Local Plan. The purpose of this was to ask for views on:

• what to include in the Local Plan and

• how to approach future Local Plan engagement

The Scoping consultation asked a number of questions about how residents and stakeholders would like to be engaged in the Local Plan process. 

The responses received have helped to inform this Engagement Strategy. Some key messages were:

• a mix of digital and in person methods such as email, social media, workshops and exhibitions were requested for consulting with residents

• there should be an opportunity to read hard copies/paper versions of documents and venues should be accessible

• the process should be open, transparent and collaborative

• site promoters welcome site-specific discussions

• early engagement is required with town and parish councils

• those groups that were identified as potentially under-represented in Local Plan consultations included the younger and older population, the military, parents with young families and those without digital access

• other ways of undertaking and encouraging engagement that were suggested included direct engagement with all major public employers, notifications in schools, care homes and community facilities events, through leaflet drops and posters and articles in parish magazines. 

A summary of the engagement that was undertaken in the Scoping consultation along with a summary of the consultation responses will be published on our New Local Plan webpages in a Summary of Scoping Consultation document.