Challenge
Downing is advancing a national portfolio of solar and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, including Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) applications and Development Consent Order (DCO) scale sites. Each site presents its own planning and political context, requiring tailored engagement to build support and reduce planning risk. In particular, one BESS project in the West Midlands needed strong regional advocacy to support its local benefits case.
Approach
Copper has provided strategic communications and engagement support across Downing’s UK portfolio, including:
- designing and delivering consultation strategies for TCPA solar and BESS sites
- developing messaging frameworks tailored to different communities and stakeholders
- engaging with political stakeholders to secure visible support for key projects
- supporting two nationally significant solar DCO applications with high-level narrative and public consultation planning.
For the West Midlands BESS site, Copper secured endorsement and a formal letter of support from the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, through direct stakeholder engagement and advocacy.
Value delivered
- Built political and community-level support across multiple sites
- Secured influential endorsement for the West Midlands BESS site, strengthening the project’s planning case
- Positioned Downing as a proactive, engaged developer with a growing national renewables portfolio
- De-risked complex projects by aligning engagement with local political priorities and planning timelines