<b><b>A slimmed down model of the increasingly popular public consultation area would be an effective way of getting through the planning process while keeping the public on side. And it will help market the scheme from the start. Tim Mills explains how he sees it working</b></b><br><b>The buzzword in every area of development and regeneration, indeed in every area of public life, is consultation. Since New Labour came to power the volume and diversity of participation exercises conducted by local and central government have risen dramatically. These consultation exercises can range from simple questionnaire based surveys to large inclusive events involving every stakeholder under the sun. </b><br><b><b>role in housebuilding</b></b><br> Consultation is often viewed by commercial organisations, particularly within the housebuilding industry, as something of a nuisance - time consuming, expensive, something that has to be done or at least seen to have been done. But I believe that some of the more innovative techniques used in consultation exercises for high-profile commercial and mixed-use developments could be adapted and applied to smaller-scale residential developments. Such exercises would satisfy the demands of local planning authorities, help get the local community on side and - this is the exciting part - provide the basis …