GK Strategy launches ‘GK Intelligent Planning’

GK Strategy has launched a planning communications service GK Intelligent Planning as it looks for further integration of its public affairs, media relations and digital communications capabilities.

GK Intelligent Planning aims to support developers from initial concept, through to development, to strip out risk surrounding planning applications and to enable projects to move smoothly with stakeholder and public support.

GK’s approach will be underpinned by its existing research capability ensuring the breadth of political and public opinion, through a suite of digital and political monitoring tools, which is understood by decision makers and the wider public before a development proposal is put forward.

The team will be supported by GK’s Associate, Stephanie Elsy, who is a former director of government affairs at Serco Group and was Leader of the London Borough of Southwark during a number of major developments including the Shard, One More London, the Tate Modern and numerous housing regeneration schemes. She currently chairs her local neighbourhood forum in Emsworth which is developing a Neighbourhood Plan that will guide future development in the area.

Emily Wallace, chief executive at GK Strategy, said: “We believe that planning communications is ripe for reform and we want to be the agency to shake it up. All too often planning campaigns rely on old fashioned lobbying techniques that do too little to remove risk from the process for developers and those seeking planning permission for large developments. We want to change this.”

Elsy said: “As a former Council Leader, I know all too well how important it is for developers to work closely with local communities and other key stakeholders to build coalitions of support around their plans. Achieving this buy-in is hugely important and I look forward to supporting the team to develop and deliver the very best strategies to achieve this.”