Powerfuel Portland – planning communications support for Energy Recovery Facility
Background
Powerfuel Portland proposed to develop a 15MW Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) at Portland Port in a £150+ million investment.
The proposed Energy Recovery Facility (ERF) will have the capacity to process up to 202,000 tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) per year, providing a practical solution to Dorset’s waste problem and generating enough partially renewable low carbon energy to power around 30,000 homes.
The ERF will be one of a new generation of energy from waste facilities, which will use the latest technologies and best available techniques to safely and efficiently produce low carbon energy from non-recyclable waste.
Brief
Powerfuel Portland selected Quantum PR to prepare all of the project’s strategic communications and to deliver a stakeholder engagement and public consultation programme ahead of the submission of the planning application. This far-reaching brief included wider PR and responsibilities such as: local, national and trade media management, event management and publishing of advertising and legal notices.
Quantum’s strategy included:
- Undertaking a stakeholder audit
- Project branding
- Design of a public leaflet, press advert and exhibition boards
- Developing key messages and FAQs to support the proposal
- Design and development of a project website
- Arranging distribution of leaflet to local households and key stakeholders
- Establishing and managing a telephone information line and email address for queries
- Proactively liaising with stakeholders and politicians
- Organising and promoting a public event
- Political and media intelligence
- Proactive and reactive media relations
- Monitoring opposition groups and individuals on social media
- Drafting a full Statement of Community Consultation report
Outcomes
Quantum’s consultants supported the client’s teams through eighteen months of pre-application activities, ensuring that the positive reasons for developing the ERF were communication on a regular basis to a skeptical local audience. By maintaining its key messages, the team managed to keep the moral high ground as the debate about the proposals descended into murky waters and promote the many benefits of the project. The planning application is currently subject to a Public Inquiry.
