What are the biggest concerns among residents when a change is about to take place in their immediate living environment?

When changes occur in the immediate living environment, several concerns can arise among local residents. For example, think of an infrastructural change. But what are actually the biggest concerns of those residents?

Impact on quality of life

 

Residents may be concerned about the impact of the project on their quality of life, such as noise disturbance, reduced privacy, or a decrease in the value of their property.

 

Impact op health

Residents may be concerned about the impact of the project on their health, such as air or noise pollution, or the presence of harmful substances.

 

Impact on environment

Residents may be concerned about the impact of the project on nature or the environment, such as loss of biodiversity or a decline in water quality.

 

Economical impact

Residents may be concerned about the economic impact of the project, such as its effect on their employment or the value of their property.

 

Lack of transparency and participation

Residents may also feel unsafe or abandoned if they are not informed about the plans or if they have no say in the process.

Residents can express their concerns through protests, legal challenges, or political pressure. What risks does this pose for the project developer? Ultimately, residents' concerns can lead to:

  • Delays

  • Cost overruns

  • A damaged reputation

  • Project termination

Want to avoid this? It is important to be proactive in communicating with residents and involving them in the process. Through transparency, communication, and inclusion of residents, project acceptance can increase, which in turn can reduce resistance.

Would you like to discuss this further? Feel free to contact us!