Property development PR and public affairs.
Harriet Kerr Limited is a PR and public affairs company, established in 2006, which specialises in property development and planning in the retail, leisure, industrial, office and residential sectors.
We have extensive long-term experience of working with Local Authorities, communities and media throughout the UK to win support for development proposals and policies.
We handle all aspects of PR and public affairs, including media relations and public consultation.
Retail
Our clients include retailers and retail investors. We work towards achieving negotiated planning consents for shopping centres and retail parks, and for new stores and store extensions. We help to secure agreement to the relaxation of restrictions covering use classes, size of units, etc. In addition, we work alongside a client’s other external advisers to obtain changes to LDF retail policies and town centre masterplans.
Click here to see examples of our experience with retail projects.
Leisure, industrial, office and residential
We work towards achieving negotiated planning consents for leisure operations and leisure parks, industrial facilities, and office and residential developments. We help to secure agreement to changes of use. We work with clients and project team specialists to demonstrate that the client is taking seriously any concerns regarding development proposals. By performing a mediating role between the client and interested third parties, we may overcome years of hostility and failed planning applications.
Click here to see examples of our experience with leisure, industrial, office and residential projects.
Understanding clients’ constraints
We have a thorough appreciation of the commercial and other constraints our clients are likely to face when seeking to progress development proposals. We also have a broad understanding of the technical issues involved.
We do not see political and public opinion as existing ‘in a vacuum’, but realise it is part of a mix of factors which a client must take into account. A development proposal which ticks all the right boxes as far as public opinion is concerned, but is commercially unrealistic, will go nowhere. However, a development proposal which is commercially promising but is unacceptable to local people and their elected representatives is also likely to be doomed.
We do not raise false expectations amongst local communities. Nor do we sweep legitimate concerns under the carpet. Rather, our role is to identify the aspirations and fears of local people, and their elected representatives, and to work constructively with clients to address these, where practical and possible. In some instances, this may be achieved by dialogue or written communication to clear up misunderstandings. In other cases, it may be necessary to make changes to development proposals and to ensure that revisions are carefully explained to interested parties.
Advice you can trust
If we believe that a planning application is likely to be refused by Local Planning Authority members at Committee (even though it may have the support of officers), or that a proposed LDF policy change is unlikely to secure the necessary political support, we always alert the client. We do not ‘go through the motions’, continuing to undertake costly PR and public affairs actions which are unlikely to bring the client any benefits – and indeed may be counter-productive.
We identify likely obstacles to success and provide constructive advice on the positive actions a client may take to overcome these.