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Roch PR worked with the University of Kent to deliver a public consultation on the University’s Framework Masterplan, which sets out a vision for the future development of its Canterbury campus. The University of Kent is the UK’s European University, with more than 20,000 students based at campuses and centres in Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Rome and Athens.

We devised a regional communications plan to engage key stakeholders before, during and after the public consultation. Our responsibilities including content development and we produced a variety of materials including newsletters, posters, leaflets, press articles, consultation documents and a report that outlined the consultation process and its results. We worked in collaboration with the in-house corporate communications and Estates team, as well as liaising with the project architect and external planning consultants, CMA Planning.

Objectives

  • Develop and deliver a strategic regional communications plan to inform, engage and consult key regional stakeholders regarding the Framework Masterplan
  • Create compelling content to raise awareness of the Framework Masterplan proposal and encourage stakeholders to participate in the consultation process
  • Develop, manage and deliver a programme of public consultation events
  • Review and analyse the results of the public consultation and deliver a report on its outcomes

Services

  • Strategic communications planning
  • Stakeholder mapping and community engagement
  • Content development including copywriting, devising infographics, and videography
  • Events management

Results

  • More than 380 stakeholders, including politicians, residents’ associations, community organisations and members of the public took part in the consultation exercise
  • More than 230 people submitted written responses to the Framework Masterplan consultation
  • Engagement at the consultation events led to further meetings between the University and community representatives to allow for discussion and revision of elements that generated opposition
  • The University will publish a final Framework Masterplan document in June 2019 for submission to Canterbury City Council