A Community Consultation Website for Boniface Community Homes
We recently designed and developed a new website for Boniface Community Homes, a Torbay developer working to bring much-needed affordable housing to the local community.
The website was created to support proposals for the redevelopment of the former St Boniface Church site on Belfield Road in Paignton.
The proposed development would transform a site that had remained unused since 2022 into 25 modern, one-bedroom affordable rented homes for people aged 55 and over.
This project required more than an ordinary property-development website. It needed to clearly explain the proposals, provide access to important consultation information and give members of the community an opportunity to share their views.
The Brief
Boniface Community Homes needed a professional and accessible online platform through which local residents, stakeholders and decision-makers could learn more about the proposed St Boniface development.
The principal objectives were to:
- Introduce Boniface Community Homes
- Explain the proposed development
- Present the potential benefits for the community
- Provide access to the public consultation
- Collect feedback from local residents
- Publish important announcements and project updates
- Make planning information easier to understand
- Provide clear contact details for the development team
- Work effectively across mobile, tablet and desktop devices
The website needed to be informative and professional while remaining welcoming and straightforward for members of the public to use.
Presenting the Development Clearly
Large planning and development projects can involve a considerable amount of technical information.
We designed the website to break this information into manageable sections, helping visitors understand the location, purpose and proposed benefits of the development.
The website explains how the former St Boniface Church site could be brought back into productive use through the creation of a thoughtfully designed three-storey development.
Rather than overwhelming visitors with planning terminology, the content focuses on the important questions local residents are likely to have.
Supporting Affordable Housing in Torbay
The proposed St Boniface development has a strong community purpose.
Its aim is to provide 25 modern and accessible one-bedroom homes for affordable rent, specifically supporting people aged 55 and over.
The website communicates this purpose prominently, explaining how the development could:
- Bring a disused local site back into use
- Provide additional affordable housing
- Support older residents in the local area
- Deliver modern and accessible accommodation
- Contribute to a stronger and more connected community
This messaging helps visitors understand both the physical development and the wider social value behind the proposals.
A Virtual Consultation Platform
An important part of the project was making the public consultation accessible online.
We created a dedicated virtual consultation area where residents could explore the redevelopment proposals without needing to attend an in-person event.
This provides an alternative for people who may have mobility requirements, work commitments or other circumstances that prevent them from attending a physical consultation.
The virtual consultation helps make the engagement process more inclusive and ensures that important information remains available throughout the consultation period.
Online Community Feedback
The website connects visitors directly to an online survey where they can submit their views about the proposed development.
Clear calls to action guide residents towards the survey from prominent areas of the website.
This makes it easier for the development team to gather feedback while giving local people a straightforward way to participate in the consultation process.
Providing both in-person and online engagement options helps reach a broader and more representative section of the community.
Project News and Announcements
Planning projects continue to develop over time, so the website needed to support regular updates.
We included a dedicated news section where Boniface Community Homes can publish:
- Consultation announcements
- Public-event information
- Planning updates
- Important dates
- Community notices
- Changes to the proposals
- Project progress
This creates a central and reliable source of information for residents who want to follow the development.
It also reduces confusion by allowing important updates to be published and shared from one permanent location.
Designed for Accessibility
A community consultation website must be usable by as many people as possible.
We created clear navigation, readable content sections, prominent calls to action and mobile-responsive layouts to help visitors find the information they need.
The website works across mobile phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers, allowing people to access the consultation information using their preferred device.
Particular consideration was given to keeping the language and structure approachable for visitors who may not regularly interact with planning documents or development websites.
Clear Routes to Get Involved
The website offers several straightforward ways for local residents to engage with the project.
Visitors can:
- Read about the proposed development
- Explore the virtual consultation
- Complete the online survey
- Review project news and announcements
- Find information about public events
- Contact the development team
- Follow the project through social media
This ensures the website actively supports public participation rather than simply presenting information.
A Digital Home for an Important Local Project
The finished website gives Boniface Community Homes a professional platform from which to present the St Boniface proposals and communicate with the local community.
It brings together development information, consultation materials, community feedback, news and contact details within one accessible online location.
We are proud to have created a website that supports open communication and helps local residents engage with a proposal designed to provide more affordable housing in Torbay.
Visit Boniface Community Homes
To learn more about the proposed St Boniface development and the work of Boniface Community Homes, visit the project website.
Visit the website: bonifacech.com
Planning a Community or Property Development?
At Free Website Wizards, we create professional websites for developers, community organisations and consultation projects across the UK.
We can help you clearly present your proposals, publish project updates, collect community feedback and make important information accessible across every device.
Our UK-based team can support you with website design, online surveys, virtual consultations, hosting, maintenance and ongoing technical support.
Speak to Free Website Wizards about your next project.
