Managing scrutiny in infrastructure

Public debate around infrastructure needs has intensified in recent years, with developers, funders, politicians and officials under a powerful spotlight of scrutiny. Debate and reporting on energy, renewables, housing, transport and utilities fills newspaper pages and the broadcasting airways on a daily basis.

Those charged with delivering this infrastructure, be it developers, policymakers or local government, face a complex and contentious landscape. Being able to deliver in the face of concerted and intense media, political and local scrutiny is a major challenge for any infrastructure or renewable project. Mishandling this scrutiny can result in delays, increased costs and even outright cancellation.

Being slow to react can entrench damaging narratives, proving detrimental or even fatal to a project’s success.
Case making

We advise companies and organisations seeking to deliver infrastructure projects with a wide range of scale and complexity. Whether it is energy projects seeking to gain planning permission through the DCO process, or housebuilders looking to boost local support for a particular development, we help clients navigate the communications and policy challenges standing between them and their vision becoming a reality.

To help build support and effectively respond to opposition, we work with infrastructure clients to create evidence-based campaigns, using facts and proactive engagement to win hearts and minds. We also help our clients communicate their vision for both how their project will help the communities in which they are located, as well as UK plc.

Projects of this nature, wherever they are sited, risk being subject to misinformation and misleading allegations from those determined to oppose. Being slow to react and rebut can entrench these damaging narratives, proving detrimental or even fatal to a project’s success. We help our clients mount a robust defence against such efforts and prevent them from taking root.

Supporting infrastructure development – our work as a firm

Our team has considerable experience in helping clients looking to deliver infrastructure projects across a range of sectors. We know the competing pressures developers face in trying to persuade communities, politicians, journalists and businesses of the merits of their proposals and we are well placed to help guide them through the bumpy road between concept and shovels in the ground.

Our services will often include aspects of the following:

  • Case immersion and audit: Conducting a review of key materials to ensure that we fully understand the full scope of issues at play.
  • Strategic communications advice: Formulating a robust communications plan to advice on how to mitigate particular issues and manage any potential media interest.
  • Media relations: Developing comprehensive press materials and prepare spokespeople through targeted media training sessions.