Challenge
The A417 Missing Link runs through a sensitive National Park (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding natural beauty) and faces public distrust, stakeholder opposition and ‘consultation fatigue’. The scheme had previously failed and needed to rebuild confidence across a complex political, environmental and community landscape.
Approach
Copper’s support for this project over seven years has included:
- forming a strategic stakeholder panel to align diverse groups and co-create a landscape-led scheme design
- running three rounds of consultation, supported by clear narratives, 3D models and interactive maps to aid understanding
- delivering a creative science, technology, engineering and mathematics schools programme, “kids’ consultation” and on-the-ground outreach through events and community fairs
- producing high-impact videos, vox pops and consultation materials to drive engagement.
Value delivered
- Built grassroots and stakeholder trust, empowering communities to shape the design
- Drove meaningful design changes, saving millions by resolving issues pre-construction
- Secured planning consent in 2022 with strong support
- Continued support into delivery, improving National Highways’ Collaborative Performance Framework (CPF) performance score (from 4 to 8) and maintaining clear, consistent communications