City Hall has issued a formal acknowledgment of the Harrow Monitoring Group’s recent submission to the Mayor of London, commending the organisation for its “important” and “constructive” contribution to the ongoing debate about accessible and inclusive public consultation in the planning system.
In a detailed response (MGLA121125-8307), London Plan Manager Marissa Ryan-Hernandez thanked the Group for clearly articulating the challenges faced by communities – particularly those in diverse boroughs such as Harrow – when confronted with dense and technical planning documents. She noted the Group’s Response to the Harrow Local Plan Main Modifications (2025) as a practical illustration of these issues. City Hall affirmed that the concerns raised “align with our own priorities,” emphasising that the complexity of planning materials can create significant barriers to meaningful engagement.
The response highlighted the Greater London Authority’s commitment to improving accessibility through a combination of statutory consultation, digital engagement, and targeted outreach, including the use of “Easy Read” summaries, videos, interactive tools, and co-produced materials with inclusion-focused organisations. These methods, City Hall stated, are designed to support the Mayor’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and help ensure that Londoners from all backgrounds are able to participate effectively.
The Harrow Monitoring Group’s recommendations – calling for clearer language, visual aids, and more inclusive engagement methods – will now be fed into internal discussions and future reviews of public participation practices. City Hall confirmed that the issues raised will be shared with relevant teams and considered in the development of forthcoming guidance on community involvement in planning.
[Hope that Harrow’s planning regime will have no difficulties in following the good practices identified by the GLA, particularly in ensuring that planning documents and consultations are understandable, accessible, and meaningful for all residents.]
City Hall’s response concludes by recognising the Group’s engagement as a valuable resource for strengthening transparency, equity, and community trust in London’s planning processes.
In a detailed response (MGLA121125-8307), London Plan Manager Marissa Ryan-Hernandez thanked the Group for clearly articulating the challenges faced by communities – particularly those in diverse boroughs such as Harrow – when confronted with dense and technical planning documents. She noted the Group’s Response to the Harrow Local Plan Main Modifications (2025) as a practical illustration of these issues. City Hall affirmed that the concerns raised “align with our own priorities,” emphasising that the complexity of planning materials can create significant barriers to meaningful engagement.
The response highlighted the Greater London Authority’s commitment to improving accessibility through a combination of statutory consultation, digital engagement, and targeted outreach, including the use of “Easy Read” summaries, videos, interactive tools, and co-produced materials with inclusion-focused organisations. These methods, City Hall stated, are designed to support the Mayor’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy and help ensure that Londoners from all backgrounds are able to participate effectively.
The Harrow Monitoring Group’s recommendations – calling for clearer language, visual aids, and more inclusive engagement methods – will now be fed into internal discussions and future reviews of public participation practices. City Hall confirmed that the issues raised will be shared with relevant teams and considered in the development of forthcoming guidance on community involvement in planning.
[Hope that Harrow’s planning regime will have no difficulties in following the good practices identified by the GLA, particularly in ensuring that planning documents and consultations are understandable, accessible, and meaningful for all residents.]
City Hall’s response concludes by recognising the Group’s engagement as a valuable resource for strengthening transparency, equity, and community trust in London’s planning processes.
Harrow Monitoring Group 