P5.3: Identifying & Engaging with Stakeholders

Local communities, stakeholders and commercial interests should be involved in the development of the evidence base. This will help to achieve effective project development as well as strengthen the commitment of key stakeholders and the wider community to the project as a whole.

Many of the issues faced in relation to a specific project will require the involvement of external stakeholders (including the local community) who may be either responsible for, or will have greater understanding of specific issues. An important part of this Stage will therefore be to:

• Identify the issues where third party input will be required:
• Identify the relevant stakeholders that would need to be involved and clarify the relevant people within those organisations who should be approached to assist in considering that specific issue/topic;
• Approach relevant stakeholders as early on as possible to discuss what information they may hold that will assist in considering that topic area, what their position is in terms of the project, it’s vision and overall objectives; and
• Consider how best to engage stakeholders in the review and analysis of key issues, in particular to gauge the importance of stakeholders in achieving an acceptable outcome and how best to draw them in as an ongoing part of the process.

It is likely that the Working Groups structure would provide a mechanism to engage with relevant stakeholders on a topic by topic basis, supplemented by a wider approach to member and community engagement.