“LCA were integral to the successful introduction of floodlighting to Lord's and getting the planning permission whilst reassuring residents and keeping them informed about testing, construction and installation. Their advice was also key to the reorganisation of our community relations structures and we now have a greatly improved and more regular dialogue with residents which in turn has helped us address a whole range of operational issues.”
LCA advised MCC on communications and public consultation around the introduction of a new floodlighting system at Lord’s in 2009. Our work was divided into two elements; support for the planning strategy for the floodlights and a major community relations exercise on their construction and testing after the council had only allowed a temporary one year permission the previous year.
LCA set up and managed meetings with the local resident consultative forum (Local to Lord’s) as well as writing to MCC members and other groups who could support the plans. Working with the planning consultants and project managers we also addressed any strong concerns locally including letters from lawyers representing a separate and more aggressive local residents’ group.
The new floodlights were approved by councillors in January 2009, subject to some last minute additional planning conditions. We were then retained to manage consultation during the construction, commissioning and testing programme where we again focused on being proactive sending out regular letters to the local community, informing them of the key dates and how they could get involved. This also included seeking out volunteer properties around the ground for testing to meet Westminster City Council’s planning conditions. We had sessions with Local to Lord’s and a public meeting where over 30 residents asked questions about the floodlights and other MCC/Lord’s issues affecting the local area.
This open and informative strategy not only helped secure a planning consent and addressed local concerns about the floodlights but also helped to re-build some of the trust issues that had broken down between MCC and certain sections of the local communities. It started a new dialogue between the club and residents on other residual issues mentioned above; LCA are helping to manage this and have been retained on the work around the club’s long term vision for Lord’s.