Shared Voice

Founded in February 2020, Shared Voice emerged from a recognition that the politics of planning in the United Kingdom often overlooks those who quietly support new homes and infrastructure. The agency was built around the idea that a "silent majority" of local residents, who favor development but rarely make their voices heard, could be mobilized to shift planning outcomes. Based in London, Shared Voice has since grown to a team of around 25 professionals, bringing together expertise from political campaigning, journalism, digital engagement, and stakeholder management to focus squarely on planning and development advocacy.

Core focus and approach

Shared Voice specializes in reshaping how planning decisions are influenced by engaging local supporters. Rather than relying on traditional public relations or lobbying, the agency focuses on mobilizing community members who already hold supportive views—what they term supporter mobilization. This approach is grounded in in-house polling and opinion research that identifies local sentiment, followed by targeted digital campaigns that encourage supporters to submit their views through official planning portals. The agency's work is built around the concept of "supporter communication," ensuring that those who back development projects have a clear and easy path to express their support during planning committee decisions.

The agency operates a three-stage engagement service for development projects. The first stage involves pre-application digital outreach, where Shared Voice uses supporter data to identify and connect with residents who are likely to support a proposed development. The second stage focuses on personalized submissions of support to planning portals, making it simple for individuals to contribute their views. The third stage provides evidence during planning committee decisions, often through supporter influence campaigns that demonstrate local backing. This method is designed to counterbalance the often louder voices of opposition, providing planning committees with a clearer picture of community sentiment.

Services and specialties

Shared Voice offers a range of services tailored to planning and development advocacy. While the agency does not provide a full public relations suite, its capabilities center on digital engagement and community support. Likely services include:

• Supporter mobilization campaigns for planning applications
• Supporter opinion research and local sentiment analysis
• Digital engagement strategies for development projects
• Supporter feedback collection and analysis
• Supporter advocacy campaigns for homes, clean energy, and infrastructure
• Planning support and evidence provision for committee decisions
• Community engagement and supporter participation programs
• Environmental consulting related to planning advocacy

Shared Voice also operates the Just Build Homes initiative, a YIMBY brand that has successfully rallied thousands of supporters across the United Kingdom. This initiative exemplifies the agency's commitment to reshaping the politics of planning by amplifying supportive voices rather than fighting opposition directly. The team's in-house polling and engagement capabilities allow for data-driven decisions, from identifying local opinion to measuring supporter sentiment over the course of a campaign.

Who benefits from Shared Voice

Shared Voice is best suited for developers, housing associations, clean energy project proponents, and infrastructure firms seeking to navigate the UK planning system more effectively. The agency's approach is particularly valuable for projects that face vocal local opposition but have a base of potential supporters who are not naturally inclined to engage. By focusing on supporter mobilization and providing evidence of community backing, Shared Voice helps clients demonstrate that their projects enjoy genuine local support, which can be crucial in planning committee decisions. The agency is also a good fit for organizations looking to build long-term community engagement strategies, as its methods emphasize ongoing supporter communication and feedback collection rather than one-off campaigns. Based in London, Shared Voice serves clients across the United Kingdom, with a particular strength in projects that require a nuanced understanding of local politics and planning procedures.