Improving our future

Lightsource bp’s Marketing and Communications team engaged Luminate to advise on a range of workstreams including stakeholder management, communications strategy, copywriting and internal communications.

To date Luminate has provided communications support on a range of high-profile topics, campaigns and issues for LSbp – including comms campaigns on its values, commitments, and collaborative working with other industry stakeholders. Luminate is also supporting Lightsource with updates and development of its core narrative on Sustainability, engagement with its supply chain, and communications on the development of technologies and processes to support its capability regarding Agrivoltaics.

To deliver this advice and support, we work in close collaboration with colleagues across LSbp’s Marketing & Communications team as well as wider internal stakeholders across the business.

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 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 supporting Persimmon Homes with community and political engagement on their proposals for a new development in Horsmonden, Kent. The project aims to provide high-quality homes alongside green public spaces, improved infrastructure, and facilities to enhance community wellbeing.

Our senior team created a comprehensive public engagement programme, with both in-person and digital consultation opportunities to ensure the local community can share their views and shape the proposals. We have also engaged with local councillors and community leaders to align the plans with Horsmonden’s character and aspirations, while addressing key priorities such as sustainability, housing affordability and road safety.


To support the engagement process, our team developed a dedicated digital portal, allowing residents to view plans, provide feedback, and stay informed. Additionally, we’ve created accessible and visually engaging materials for stakeholders, ensuring clarity and transparency throughout the consultation.

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.

We work with LSbp on solar projects across the UK, including in Green Belt areas or other sensitive locations requiring careful navigation of local concerns. By proactively promoting the benefits of these projects, we help build understanding and support among key stakeholders.

Our approach includes mapping and developing tools to engage political, community, and other stakeholders, addressing concerns while highlighting project benefits to position them for successful outcomes. We also develop strategies and materials to ensure diverse voices are included in consultations, creating opportunities for advocacy and support.

Beyond project-specific work, we support LSbp’s EMEA and Global teams with training and best practice for community engagement. This includes creating guides, resources, and tools to enhance engagement activities - reflecting LSbp’s genuine and log-standing commitment to meaningful and effective dialogue with communities to deliver positive environmental and social impacts.

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.

Hortus Living is an award-winning, design-led house builder focused on creating homes that blend seamlessly into their surroundings and foster community, comfort, and efficiency. Since Autumn 2023, Luminate has led communications for Hortus Living, delivering a digital-first public engagement campaign to support a planning application to Swindon Borough Council. This included developing a consultation website, hosting an in-person public event, and crafting messaging and branding for stakeholders and potential customers.

Alongside Luminate’s work to devise and deliver an effective public engagement campaign, we are retained on an ongoing basis as a strategic advisor to the project, helping to manage engagement with political, business, and community stakeholders while collaborating with Hortus Living’s technical team. The public consultation concluded in early 2024, supporting the successful submission of the planning application. The proposals have gained support from several key stakeholders - including support from councillors at SBC and the Parish Council.

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 provides political and community engagement and public consultation support to Lightsource bp (LSbp) across a range of BESS projects in both England and Scotland – ensuring that the varying consenting and consultation requirements in each country are met, and that any ideas, concerns or issues regarding these projects are addressed.

Alongside the 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 felt by local communities through delivery of positive and lasting local impact.

These BESS projects and the pipeline of future storage opportunities being brought forward by LSbp 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.