Forty Shillings

Forty Shillings is a communications and engagement agency based in London, United Kingdom, with a sharp focus on the property, planning, and regeneration sectors. Founded in 2011, the firm has built a reputation for helping developers, landowners, and public bodies navigate the often complex process of securing consent and building support for new projects. Rather than offering broad-brush PR, Forty Shillings concentrates on the specific challenge of stakeholder engagement in the built environment, making it a niche player in the UK communications landscape.

Specialised Services for Property and Regeneration

Forty Shillings provides a suite of services tailored to the property and infrastructure sectors. These are designed to manage the relationship between a development and its surrounding community, as well as the political and regulatory stakeholders who influence planning outcomes. The agency’s core offering includes:

• Public affairs and political engagement at local and regional levels
• Stakeholder mapping and community consultation
• Communications strategy for planning applications and public inquiries
• Digital engagement and consultation platforms
• Issues management and crisis communications for development projects
• Media relations targeting local, trade, and national press
• Management consulting on community relations and social value

These services are delivered with an understanding that planning decisions are rarely made on technical merit alone. Forty Shillings helps clients build a narrative around their projects, demonstrating how they will benefit existing communities and address local concerns. This approach is particularly valuable for large-scale regeneration schemes, housing developments, and infrastructure projects that require extensive public consultation.

Methodology: Two-Way Dialogue and Transparency

Forty Shillings operates with a clear methodology centred on creating open, transparent dialogue between developers and their stakeholders. Rather than simply broadcasting a client’s message, the agency focuses on listening to communities and feeding those insights back into project design. This two-way approach is intended to reduce opposition, build trust, and ultimately speed up the planning process. The firm’s work often involves running consultation events, managing online feedback platforms, and coordinating with local councillors, resident groups, and business associations. By positioning itself as a bridge between the developer and the public, Forty Shillings helps to de-escalate tensions and find common ground. This method has proven effective for clients ranging from large housebuilders to public sector regeneration bodies.

London Base and National Reach

While Forty Shillings is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, at 10 Brighton Road, its work extends across the country. The London location places the agency at the centre of the UK’s most dynamic property market, but many of its projects take place in regional cities and towns undergoing regeneration. Being based in London allows the team to maintain close relationships with national media, industry bodies, and policymakers, while their project work often requires deep local knowledge of specific communities. The agency’s experience spans both large-scale urban regeneration and smaller, sensitive developments where community buy-in is critical.

Who Forty Shillings Is Best Suited For

Forty Shillings is a strong fit for property developers, landowners, housing associations, and public sector regeneration teams who need to manage the communications and engagement aspects of planning. The agency is particularly suited to projects that face significant local opposition or require extensive consultation as part of a planning condition. It is also a good choice for organisations that value a collaborative, community-focused approach over aggressive lobbying. Because the agency specialises in this single sector, clients benefit from a team that understands planning law, local government dynamics, and the sensitivities of placemaking. For any organisation working on a development that needs to win hearts and minds, Forty Shillings offers a focused, experienced, and practical service from its London base.