Case Study: Essex County Council achieves richer public engagement for its LNRS with Delib’s Citizen Space Geospatial

Essex County Council runs 48-authority LNRS consultation over 8 weeks with Delib

Essex County Council faced the significant challenge of conducting a legally binding, statutory consultation to establish its Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) across its large and geographically diverse region. They needed to meaningfully engage all stakeholders and communities while integrating complex spatial data, as required by the Environment Act 2021, and rigorously document the entire process for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Delib implemented its Citizen Space platform, utilizing its Geospatial feature to create an interactive consultation hub. This solution combined strategy documentation with interactive maps, allowing the public to provide detailed qualitative feedback with visual context. The consultation successfully gathered extensive input from residents and stakeholders across Greater Essex. Delib's tools enabled the council to meet its statutory obligation while genuinely engaging the public, resulting in a published strategy expected to deliver benefits including carbon capture, flood risk reduction, and expanded space for nature.

Essex County Council