Ziran Land engaged GBW to help secure planning permission for a Starbucks drive-thru on the A38 in Northfield, on vacant land next to a primary school, which was opposed to the development for safety reasons.
We devised an engagement strategy which highlighted a range of measures to actually improve safety for school children as a result of investment in the immediate area. These included direct links from the Starbucks car park, highway and footpath improvements, and the removal of random parking by parents.
Despite a local councillor raising concerns similar to the school, we demonstrated that the perception of danger was obstructing the reality that the development would actually make the area safer. The plans were unanimously approved by Birmingham City Council.
