Why community engagement matters to Ossian

Lisa Di Mambro-Fitzpatrick, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, SSE    

Lisa Di Mambro-Fitzpatrick, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, SSE

At Ossian, community engagement is not a tick box exercise - it’s a fundamental part of how we develop and deliver our project. From the earliest stages of planning through to construction and operation, our commitment to meaningful, two way dialogue with local communities is constant and non-negotiable.  

The development of the Ossian project, particularly in areas such as east Scotland and Lincolnshire, has real impacts on real people. From the landscape and environment to infrastructure, job creation and the local economy, these are not abstract issues. That’s why it’s important we speak directly with the people who live and work in these communities. 

“People living in these areas go about their daily lives, raise families, run businesses, and take pride in their local heritage,” Lisa explains. “They know their communities better than we do - so to develop responsibly, we need to listen to them from the start.” 

Early engagement allows us to fact find, introduce the project and ourselves, and begin to build lasting relationships. It’s essential to the way we work. Community members offer insight on environmental factors, historical sensitivities, local skills and job market needs, and even road usage patterns. These perspectives are invaluable and shape how the project evolves. 

Engagement at Ossian follows a structured yet flexible process. While formal consultation is governed by national planning regimes - Section 36 and Marine Licences in Scotland, and the Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) or Development Consent Order in England - we don’t limit ourselves to what’s legally required. “We know engagement isn’t a ‘nice to have’ - it’s a must-do,” says Lisa. 

We start early, even when we don’t have all the answers. In fact, that’s the point. Communities help shape the project details, rather than being handed a finished design. We build layered engagement plans tailored to each community’s needs and preferences - some communities prefer to hear from us via parish councils, others through Facebook groups or mail drops.  

Importantly, we recognise that our work doesn't exist in a vacuum. Communities, especially those in high infrastructure areas like Lincolnshire, face consultation fatigue. That’s why Lisa and the team host detailed coordination meetings with other projects where possible and ensure they’re communicating at the right time, with the right level of information. 

“There’s a balance,” Lisa says. “We can’t come out every week with minor updates - but we also can’t wait until every detail is finalised. Engagement needs to be timely, transparent and purposeful.” 

The feedback we receive from communities isn’t just heard - it’s actioned. Every comment, suggestion or concern is recorded, analysed and passed to the relevant teams. Whether it’s a local resident concerned about road closures, or environmental groups highlighting sensitive habitats, that feedback is assessed and prioritised, and used to inform routing decisions, land access plans, and environmental assessments. 

This process of listening and responding is not about appeasement - it’s about co-creating a better, smarter, and more community conscious project. “Even if we can’t always mitigate 100%, community feedback helps us understand where concerns lie and improve our plans,” Lisa explains. “I’ve never had a conversation with a stakeholder that I didn’t learn something from.” 

As Stakeholder Engagement Manager, Lisa describes herself as a “custodian of relationships.” She designs and drives the engagement strategy - asking key questions like: Who are we speaking to? When is the right time? Are we being clear and transparent? Lisa also plays a crucial role in managing expectations and helping the public navigate what can be highly technical information. “Planning documents are full of acronyms and jargon - it’s my job to translate that into plain, accessible language,” she says. 

Ossian also works closely with schools, skills agencies, colleges, and local authorities to explore long-term benefits such as education, employment and skills development. These conversations shape how Ossian invests back into the community, creating a socio-economic legacy that lasts beyond the life of the project. 

Our message to communities in Scotland and Lincolnshire is simple: talk to us. Whether it’s a question about land use, a concern about construction impacts, or a thought about how community benefit funds could be spent - we want to hear from you. It’s not always possible to share every detail at every moment but know that silence doesn’t mean inaction. Often, we are working through technical processes and your earlier feedback to develop better, more meaningful updates. 

Community engagement at Ossian isn’t a one-off event - it’s a continuous, evolving relationship. As Lisa says, “We’re here to listen, to adapt, and to get it right - not just for the project, but for the people who live alongside it.” 

So, whether you’ve heard from us before or are new to the conversation - reach out. Your voice matters. And the earlier we hear from you, the more we can do together.