Learnings

Outcomes

This project looked to explore the public perception of consultations for large infrastructure projects and address the research problem of underlying public disengagement with this process. The research carried out in this project contributes conceptually, methodologically and empirically to addressing the research problem through a high voltage overhead powerline case study research design in Cumbria. The outcomes from this research are both theoretical and empirical. The conceptual framework and research methods (theoretical) have contributed to a novel academic approach to investigating public engagement with the energy industry and the empirical output will help to inform the development of public engagement strategies in practice.

Theoretical output: A detailed understanding of public disengagement was developed using a novel approach that combined Bourdieusian conceptual framework with aspects of place along with policy and practice implications. Bourdieusian conceptual framework suggests inclusion of parameters such as social and geographic location, and potential biases of the infrastructure developers/actors while analysing public engagement in planning processes such as consultations. A few factors that influence public engagement emerged from the case study including perceptions of stigma arising partly from the place and partly from experiences of legacy planning applications for energy, underlying factors of marginalisation and peripherality which is often seen in small communities perceived to be without voice or power in the process. These factors can be understood further by exploring the public’s relationship with the place in consideration through various people-place interactions. Following the completion of extensive interviews and conversations in the three chosen communities, observations indicate different degrees of pragmatism versus principle, different degrees of place attachment; and different degrees of contentedness for other people, e.g. councillors, to act on people’s behalf.

Empirical output: The empirical outcome of this research is a Typology of Engagement which suggests a move away from the existing binary approach (of engagement and disengagement) and towards  degrees of engagement. This framework can be used by TOs such as NGET to tailor public engagement strategies, to be used based on the location of future schemes and nuances of disengagement specific to the area.

Case study output: The case study explored in this project is public engagement on large scale electricity infrastructure projects. The study indicates that there is evidence that NGET are experienced in meeting the requirements of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) regime for public consultation for major infrastructure projects. This research will not necessarily suggest any changes in NGET’s approach on future projects, but an enhanced approach to public engagement could improve participation and include more voices in future consultation events. There may be opportunities for improved communications to reduce the risk of misunderstanding and the altered public perception that results.

Additionally, the success criteria for this project have been met with the successful publication of European good practice guide developed within InspireGrid project and the thesis from the studentship scope element. Further publications and presentations will continue in academic and industry arenas to disseminate the project outcomes.

Recommendations for further work

The following areas are recommended to further the work carried out as part of this project:

• Theoretical: The theoretical framework of Bourdieusian concepts used in this novel area of research has scope for further development with particular focus on large scale energy projects.
• Methodological and empirical: The novel Typology of Engagement developed as part of this thesis can be progressed further as a thinking tool and tested along with exploring application to a range of other subject areas such as climate change, other infrastructure projects,  national and international geographical areas.
• Application to other areas of interest from empirical perspective in the GB grid.

Lessons Learnt

For lessons learnt until 2020/21, please refer to the progress report published in 2020/21. No new lessons were expected or delivered in 2021/22 apart from the formal publication of the thesis.

Dissemination

Presentations covering work carried out in the project around topics such as communities, engagement and planning were given at the following events:

1.     'Hard to Reach or Hard to Engage?' - Energy and Communities Seminar, July 2015, University of Exeter

2.     The seldom-heard voice in public engagement with major infrastructure - UK-Ireland Planning Research Conference 2016, Cardiff University

3.     Exploring public disengagement from proposed overhead powerline consultation processes through a Bourdieuian lens - ​4th Energy and Society Conference, 2018, University of Exeter

4.     Public disengagement from the decision-making process for Nationally Significant Infrastructure projects - Exeter Energy 5th Making Sense of Sustainable Energy Systems Seminar, 2019, University of Exeter

5.     Exploring public disengagement from consultation processes for major infrastructure through a Bourdieusian lens - UK Ireland Planning Research Conference, 2019, University of Liverpool

6.     Investigating the role of symbolic violence in understanding public disengagement from planning for energy infrastructure - Royal Geographical Society Annual International Conference, 2021.

7.     Investigating public disengagement from planning for major infrastructure projects: A high voltage powerline case study – Findings and reflections, University of Exeter Economic & Social Research Group presentation, May 2022.

In addition, the research work done as part of this thesis led to an invitation from the Royal Town Planning Institute to take part in the plenary session at the ‘Planner Live North’ event on the 12th of May 2021. At the event, the researcher discussed transferable knowledge from this PhD along with wider research on place based public disengagement from climate change adaptation and how it could be applied to communicating climate change to the public.

The work carried out in this project has been documented in the thesis titled “Investigating public disengagement from planning for major infrastructure projects: A high voltage powerline case study” published on University of Exeter’s Open Research Exeter library in March 2022.

Upcoming publication:

·       UK Ireland Planning Research Conference September 2022 – Abstract accepted