Statement of community involvement SCI
Section 18 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 introduced a requirement for local planning authorities to prepare a statement of community involvement (SCI), that is ‘…a statement of the authority’s policy as to the involvement in the exercise of the authority’s functions under sections 19, 26 and 28 of this Act and Part 3 of the principal Act of persons who appear to the authority to have an interest in matters relating to development in their area.’
The statement of community involvement sets out the local planning authority's engagement strategy for the planned involvement of the local community in the preparation and review of development plan documents and in consultation on planning applications. It describes the standards that the local planning authority will adopt in these processes, and how those standards will be achieved. The statement of community involvement itself is not a development plan document, but may be included as part of the local plan’s core strategy.
The planning inspectorate suggests that, ‘A statement of community involvement will tell you how you can find out what is going on in relation to planning matters in your area and how you can get involved. It will set out the types of communities in the area that the authority will try to involve, and the organisations and people the authority has to consult. It should also set out how the authority will consult people.' (Ref. Planning inspectorate, A brief guide to examining statements of community involvement.)
The detailed requirements for the preparation of statements of community involvement were amended by the introduction of the Localism Act 2011 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
See also statement of community consultation SoCC
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Authority monitoring report.
- Community.
- Community engagement.
- Community plan.
- Consultation process.
- Development management.
- Development plan.
- Development plan documents.
- Local development scheme.
- Local plan.
- London Borough of Enfield's heritage strategy.
- Neighbourhood plan.
- NPPF.
- Planning authorities.
- Planning permission.
- Supplementary planning documents.
- The London Plan.
Featured articles and news
Buildings that changed the future of architecture. Book review.
The Sustainability Pathfinder© Handbook
Built environment agency launches free Pathfinder© tool to help businesses progress sustainability strategies.
Government outcome to the late payment consultation, ECA reacts.
IHBC 2025 Gus Astley Student Award winners
Work on the role of hewing in UK historic conservation a win for Jack Parker of Oxford Brookes University.
Future Homes Building Standards and plug-in solar
Parts F and L amendments, the availability of solar panels and industry responses.
How later living housing can help solve the housing crisis
Unlocking homes, unlocking lives.
Preparing safety case reports for HRBs under the BSA
A new practical guide to preparing structural inputs for safety cases and safety case reports published by IStructE.
Male construction workers and prostate cancer
CIOB and Prostate Cancer UK encourage awareness of prostate cancer risks, and what to do about it.
The changed R&D tax landscape for Architects
Specialist gives a recap on tax changes for Research and Development, via the ACA newsletter.
Structured product data as a competitive advantage
NBS explain why accessible product data that works across digital systems is key.
Welsh retrofit workforce assessment
Welsh Government report confirms Wales faces major electrical skills shortage, warns ECA.
A now architectural practice looks back at its concept project for a sustainable oceanic settlement 25 years on.
Copyright and Artificial Intelligence
Government report and back track on copyright opt out for AI training but no clear preferred alternative as yet.
Embedding AI tools into architectural education
Beyond the render: LMU share how student led research is shaping the future of visualisation workflows.
Why document control still fails UK construction projects
A Chartered Quantity Surveyor explains what needs to change and how.
Inspiration for a new 2026 wave of Irish construction professionals.
New planning reforms and Warm Homes Bill
Take centre stage at UK Construction Week London.