Empowering Marginalised Voices in the Planning System
05 Mar, 20251-2 minutes
In this blog, you will learn:
- Marginalised voices in the planning system.
- How to empower marginalised voices in the planning system.
- Why it is important to empower marginalised voices in the planning system.
- Where the latest planning jobs are and how to apply for them.
Effective community engagement is crucial for the success of the UK planning sector. However, still to this day there are people who face barriers when it comes to contributing their ideas and having a say in local planning decisions. In our latest blog we’re exploring how to empower marginalised voices in the planning system and why it is important to do so.
Marginalised voices in the planning system
Marginalised voices sometimes refer to:
- Homeless people.
- Low-income communities.
- Ethnic minorities.
- Disabled people.
- Rural communities.
- Young people.
Homeless people
Despite housing policies being in place to increase affordable housing throughout the UK, homeless people are frequently excluded from consultation processes.
Low-income communities
Although the UK government's Levelling Up initiative was introduced to address regional disparities and reduce geographical inequality, there are still many low-income communities across the UK who have limited say over planning decisions.
Urban regeneration plays an important role in reducing urban deprivation however low-income communities face a lack of input despite suffering poor housing, a lack of services and environmental issues.
Ethnic minorities
Potential underrepresentation of ethnic minorities within planning consultations can lead to the creation of developments that do not effectively reflect their needs. For example, a lack of consideration for religious and cultural needs within community spaces and housing can result in ethnic minorities feeling marginalised.
Disabled people
Should plans and developments not accommodate the needs of disabled people, this can lead to their voices being marginalised within the planning system. Planning decisions must consider accessibility for disabled people and ensure that they are able to use amenities, housing and community spaces as effectively as other members of a community.
Rural communities
Should planning processes be dominated by the needs of urban spaces, this can result in rural communities feeling left behind. Infrastructure and service provision must be a priority for all communities, whether they reside in bustling towns and cities or rural locations.
How can we empower marginalised voices in the planning system?
Methods to empower marginalised voices within the planning system, include:
- Implement feedback.
- Maintain community engagement.
- Listen before acting.
- Ensure diversity within planning bodies.
Implement feedback
Implementing feedback is essential within the planning system for ensuring that the concerns of marginalised voices are acted upon as well as listened to.
The planning system must ensure that their actions are not tokenistic and that they are in fact, where appropriate, implementing the feedback they receive from marginalised groups into planning decisions.
This is essential for creating trust between planning professionals and community groups whilst increasing the likelihood of longer term engagement.
Implementing feedback also helps projects to reflect the social, economic and cultural needs of a whole community through the creation of affordable housing, cultural amenities and public spaces that can be accessed by everyone.
Maintain community engagement
An important way to empower marginalised voices within the planning system is to show that there is continuous support towards such groups.
Planning recruitment specialist, Josh Draycott, says “Engaging with those who feel marginalised should be a continuous focus for planning professionals, not something that just happens once in a ‘box ticking’ manner.”
Regular engagement helps to foster trust and transparency, both of which are essential for creating an inclusive planning system.
Giving communities a platform in which they can voice their concerns regarding affordable housing, environmental issues or the safety of their town shows that the planning sector is open to listening to concerns, regardless of when they are raised or who they are raised by.
Maintaining community engagement also allows the profession to hold decision-makers accountable should problems arise. Planning decisions should reflect the needs of all community members and maintaining avenues for them to engage with planning professionals is important for the success of towns and cities across the UK.
Listen before acting
It goes without saying that one of the most important steps to empowering marginalised voices is to listen to them. Going above and beyond to include groups who may feel underrepresented, demonstrates a willingness from the planning system to listen to the feelings of everyone, not just those who can shout the loudest.
Planning professionals, such as Town Planners, should uphold their work with the highest level of respect for all residents.
However, listening is not just about hearing what people are saying, it is making the effort to empathise with the emotions and understand the reasons behind a person’s opinion. The ability to do so can be beneficial for empowering marginalised voices and demonstrating fairness throughout the planning system.
Ensure diversity within planning bodies
To ensure that planning decisions are representative, there should be diversity within planning bodies. A planning workforce that reflects a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, age groups, religions and disabilities is essential for ensuring that planning practices are also diverse.
Diversity within the planning sector allows lived experiences to help shape policies and fosters cultural sensitivity when it comes to making planning decisions.
Representation within the planning system shows marginalised groups that they can trust the sector and encourages them that their voices will be heard.
Why is it important to empower marginalised voices in the planning system?
Empowering marginalised voices across the planning system is of utmost importance in order to ensure that there is transparency between planning professionals and local communities.
To create sustainable communities that value inclusivity at their core, honest, open communication is required. This not only enhances the vibrancy of communities, it prevents inequality and improves housing, services, infrastructure and safe spaces for everyone.
Empowering marginalised voices is also essential for enhancing accountability should issues arise and not only do marginalised groups have the opportunity to use their voices, the planning system benefits from a rich variety of input. Ultimately, this leads to better representation within the system, enhances economic opportunity and better cultural diversity across UK towns and cities.
Contact a town planning recruitment specialist
Josh Draycott is a dedicated private sector and local authority Town Planning recruitment specialist with a diverse background in recruitment.
With a strong focus on the planning industry, Josh recruits for a wide range of roles, including Town Planners, Policy Planners, Urban Planners, Development Management Planners and Directors of Planning. His expertise lies in sourcing both interim and permanent talent to meet the planning objectives of his clients.
Planning jobs
If you’re searching for your next town planning job, why not take a look at the latest vacancies, or simply upload your CV to be notified when a relevant position becomes available.
Town planning recruitment services
As town planning recruitment specialists, we support local authorities and private sector businesses nationwide with their temporary, interim and permanent recruitment needs.
Josh has built long-standing, trusted relationships with numerous local council planning departments, delivering tailored recruitment solutions that address the dynamic and evolving demands of the town planning sector.
If you’re struggling to fill a vacancy, get in touch with Josh Draycott on 01772 954200 to see how we can help.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Established in 2017, we’re an award winning and progressive recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Our reputation is built on trust, expertise and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations.
In 2024, we were named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the prestigious Recruiter Awards, an accolade we are extremely proud of.
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