Case Study: Leeds City Council achieves wide-reaching, continuous public engagement for transport planning with Commonplace

Giving people in Leeds a say on their Transport Network

Leeds City Council faced the challenge of engaging residents on an ambitious transport investment program—improving key routes into the city while boosting bus use and active travel—requiring wide-reaching, continuous engagement to build transparency and trust. To meet this need they used Commonplace’s online engagement platform (nine linked websites, a regional Community Heatmap and a central Leeds Transport landing page) alongside WSP-led public meetings to gather local views throughout three consultation phases.

Commonplace implemented the multi-site engagement, using its news feature and social sharing to drive participation and sustain an “always available” dialogue; social referrals alone exceeded 10,500. The programme drew 34,092 visitors, 22,853 engagements, 5,179 responses, 7,591 comments, 9,863 agreements and 2,208 subscribers, and feedback gathered via Commonplace led to scheme refinements and some redesigns, improving decision‑maker confidence and community accountability.

Leeds City Council

Nigel Foster

Chair, Leeds Transport Advisory Panel