Enabling virtual public consultations for large-scale infrastructure projects

规划申请，特别是风力发电场或太阳能开发等大型项目的规划申请，在获得规划同意之前需要进行公众咨询。目前的新型冠状病毒安全措施使公众集会无法进行，导致咨询和规划过程出现延误。如果不进行干预，这将导致可再生能源建设的延误，最终削弱英国实现其雄心勃勃的净零碳目标的能力。我们的解决方案将这些公众咨询带入虚拟世界，让社区成员能够在舒适的家中检查计划并提出问题。我们打算保留真实世界咨询的所有好处，从演示材料到与开发商和独立专家的一对一和小组讨论。在Innovate UK的支持下，我们的项目将有助于确保英国在完成基础设施规划并准备好采取行动的情况下走出这一流行病。

Planning applications, particularly those for large-scale projects like wind farms or solar power developments, require public consultations before they receive planning consent. Current Covid-19 safety measures make public gatherings impossible, leading to delays in the consultation and planning process. Without intervention, this would lead to delays in renewable energy construction and, ultimately, undermine the UK's ability to hit its ambitious net zero carbon target.Our solution brings these public consultations into the virtual world, allowing community members to examine plans and ask questions from the comfort of their home. We intend to retain all of the benefits of a real-world consultation, from the presentation materials through to the one-on-one and group discussions with the developers and independent experts.With the support of Innovate UK, our project will help to ensure that the UK comes out of this pandemic with infrastructure planning complete, signed off and ready for action.