Who is Involved?

Stakeholders are diverse in nature from residents to business owners and governments.

A major hallmark of the Urban Planning process is surely its complexity in terms of stakeholder interest representation and consultation. As is often said academic literature on planning: it is part of the urban planner role to work as a public advocate, to work for a common good across society and not simply for the good of select stakeholders (often the most influential). As such planners, in addition to standard spatial, environmental, social and economic facets of society need to consider the interest of stakeholders- that is people influenced by a project and people who influence the decisions.

As noted in a recent UC Urban lecture there are various levels of stakeholder participation within the planning process: 1) Information provision- informing those with interest in plan, 2) Consultation: stakeholders are sought at intervals to provide input and feedback, 3) Deciding together- stakeholders are meaningful decision makers who work with the planning body and other pertinent professionals in the planning formulation process, 4) Acting together- stakeholders involved at implementation stage in the process and 5) Supporting independent stakeholder groups- independent development of strategies by involved stakeholders.