Improving our future

Luminate is the communications lead on the Humberhead Solar project in East Riding of Yorkshire – providing Island Green Power (IGP) with support across stakeholder engagement, consultation delivery, messaging and materials.

Humberhead Solar is a proposed new solar and energy storage project that will provide approximately 500 megawatts of clean, renewable energy, as well as battery storage facilities. The project will generate clean, domestic electricity, reducing reliance on imports, and is expected to power approximately 115,000 homes. ​​

As the communications and engagement lead on the project, Luminate has devised and is delivering a comprehensive and robust communications strategy for the project navigating changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Act , ensuring strategy meets all statutory requirements, whilst remaining effective and meaningful in engaging the project’s key stakeholders across political, community and business audiences.

Luminate is supporting Bloor Homes with community and political engagement across key sites in the East of England. Our work is focused on promoting strategic sites through the local plan process, as well as assisting with immediate applications, to help Bloor Homes deliver much-needed housing and community infrastructure.

Our engagement strategy has included a wide range of activities, such as conducting surveys to establish what local communities want from development, engaging with local councillors to align proposals with their priorities, and providing advice on the upcoming Planning & Infrastructure Bill.

In addition to our stakeholder engagement expertise, our work includes the delivery public consultations, both in-person and virtually, to ensure meaningful dialogue with residents and stakeholders. Through this comprehensive approach, we help ensure Bloor Homes’ proposals are well-informed, community-driven, and aligned with local and regional planning objectives.

Luminate worked closely with EDPR to devise a stakeholder engagement strategy which focuses on navigating the site’s complexities, ensuring the project reflects local priorities and builds trust, all whilst securing meaningful and long-term support. The strategy also considers the local sensitivities of the site alongside opportunities to utilise the uniqueness of its location and context.

Following development of this strategy with the project team, a clear understanding has been established of the risks and opportunities connected with the scheme, alongside an agreed framework for messaging and engagement with its key stakeholders which can be utilised in future and following launch of the project’s external communications.

Luminate is supporting London Southend Airport in its ambitious expansion plans, as it looks to prepare for continued growth from 2025 onwards.

Working alongside HOPE Agency as an expert communications and public affairs consortium, Luminate is delivering an integrated communications strategy, managing local engagement to build understanding and support among key community, political, and business stakeholders.

Our work ensures clear, compelling messaging that highlights the benefits of the expansion—ranging from job creation to enhanced regional connectivity, while engaging with national politicians and addressing local concerns. This is underpinned by strategic media relations, stakeholder engagement, and public consultation, all designed to create a transparent, inclusive process to support the growth of the airport.

Luminate’s expertise in infrastructure communications positions us to support London Southend Airport in achieving its vision for sustainable growth while fostering trust and collaboration across its communities.

Luminate was appointed by SSE and the University of Surrey to build support for, and mitigate opposition to, their 12MW solar facility in the Surrey Green Belt. We advised the project on securing endorsements from student leaders, academics, and local businesses, highlighting the scheme's alignment with sustainability and innovation goals.

Working closely with the wider project team, we supported the project on engagement with key stakeholders, including international academics, industry bodies and business groups, to amplify positive messaging and leverage the university's position as a hub for renewable energy research to foster advocacy.

Following the communications and engagement programme on the project, the application was considered and approved by Guildford Borough Council.

Luminate is providing communications and engagement support to the Shadwell Estate as it consults with the local community on its masterplan. At the outset, Luminate led a corporate visioning workshop with the estate management team to define the approach for a new corporate website, and is providing copywriting services to support its delivery. In parallel, Luminate is leading the engagement programme for the estate-wide masterplan - including political engagement at Breckland Council, establishing and facilitating the Shadwell Estate Masterplan Forum - a community-led steering group - as well as arranging and leading a community engagement event in Thetford.

This coordinated communications and engagement campaign is ensuring that key partners, stakeholders and the wider community are brought in at the earliest stage of the estate's next chapter. Early, open engagement reduces the risk of misinformation taking hold and creates the opportunity to build genuine allies - people who have actively helped shape the estate's future. Together, these foundations strengthen the prospects for successful planning consents as the estate looks to diversify its land uses.

Luminate supports AQUIND with strategic communications advice and support - most recently in conducting a wide-ranging polling exercise via an independent, leading market research company. The polling demonstrated clear, local support - both for the aims of the project and for the component elements of the project itself.

The results of the poll rightly gained the attention of national, local and trade press, and were widely publicised through a campaign across both traditional and social media.

Prior to founding Luminate, our MD Ally Kennedy led stakeholder engagement and consultation on the project during AQUIND’s DCO consenting process. This work included developing targeted strategies for engagement across local, regional, and national levels with key political and community stakeholders, supported by development of a dedicated project website, comprehensive local media relations campaign, and a wide-ranging programme of in-person consultation events spanning four local authorities and dozens of affected communities.

Luminate continues to provide AQUIND with strategic communications advice and support. A decision on the application is currently awaited from the Secretary of State.

Luminate is proud to provide communications advice and support to Metis across its full portfolio of active sites - from early stage risk assessment pre-acquisition, to promotion and development of emerging proposals through the planning process.

Our work encompasses engagement with politicians and all other key stakeholders, alongside delivery of in-person and virtual public consultation as required. We have supported Metis in a large number of local authorities - often on sites where effective engagement with decision-makers and those who influence them is critically important.

Our senior team has worked successfully to develop and execute political and community engagement strategies – supporting the Metis team for well over a decade in delivering important and challenging consents in a large number of authorities across the Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex region.

Luminate provides strategic communications support to Dandara across its portfolio of projects in south east England, guiding schemes through the planning process from early-stage strategy through to public consultation and beyond.

Our work spans project strategy, stakeholder and political engagement, and the delivery of in-person and virtual public consultation - with a particular focus on sites where the views of decision-makers and local influencers can determine outcomes.

Our senior team has developed and delivered tailored political and community engagement strategies for each project, designed around the specific dynamics, sensitivities and stakeholder landscape of every site. This targeted approach has helped Dandara build the relationships and goodwill needed to progress schemes effectively through the planning system.

Luminate is leading community and political engagement regarding plans for a new hotel and cycle at Greenway Park. Once complete, the project will offer the opportunity to double the local spend of visitors to the Park by addressing the National Park’s limited overnight accommodation options, whilst providing a hub to promote cycling and walking locally.

Our work to date has included an in-person and virtual public engagement exercise, mobilisation of advocates for the project, and engagement with key decision-makers in the local area and across the South Downs National Park more broadly.

Alongside our work to devise and deliver an effective stakeholder engagement strategy, we have provided a range of creative services on the project including design of briefing materials for stakeholders, production of all collateral to support the in-person event, and development of a digital engagement portal to provide an opportunity for people to view and comment on the proposals online.

Luminate supports Lightsource bp (LSbp) on a range of battery storage projects and solar projects in England and Scotland - including projects in the South East, Midlands and North of England and across Scotland’s Central Belt. Several of these projects are located in the Green Belt, or have other sensitivities affecting promotion, which has required careful handling of local concerns and proactive promotion of these projects’ respective benefits with individual key stakeholders.  

Alongside the public consultation, community and political engagement solutions we deliver for LSbp across this portfolio of projects, Luminate also works closely with LSbp to identify and take forward opportunities for collaboration with local organisations regarding Community Benefit – ensuring that the benefits of these projects are aligned with unique needs of each community and are felt by local communities through delivery of positive and lasting local impact.

These projects and LSbp’s pipeline of future opportunities are key to unlocking a clean, reliable, and affordable energy future for the UK – increasing renewable energy adoption, supporting decarbonisation, and reducing electricity costs for consumers - whilst delivering a more resilient grid.