ENGAGEMENT AND CONSULTATION

At Next Phase, meaningful engagement is central to how we shape successful projects. We work with local authorities, landlords and project teams to understand what communities genuinely want to see, using engagement to inform decisions and shape outcomes.

A core strength of our work is direct engagement with market traders, street food businesses, independent operators and small business owners. We spend significant time on the ground, working with those who use and depend on places every day. This gives us a clear understanding of commercial realities, operational pressures and local ambition, allowing us to navigate difficult conversations, explain change clearly and build trust through the process.

Alongside stakeholder engagement, we use modern marketing and insight-led engagement methods to reach wider communities and uncover both visible and latent demand. This includes targeted digital engagement, surveys, workshops and place-based activity designed to be accessible and relevant, rather than process-driven or tokenistic.

Our approach recognises that people engage when they believe their views will influence outcomes. By combining practical, face-to-face engagement with contemporary communication techniques, we help shape projects that are understood, supported and embraced by the communities they serve. The result is development that responds to real needs, strengthens local economies and builds long-term confidence in change.