Runaway train: public participation and the case of HS2

Public participation is a key feature in policy decision making yet there is limited understanding of public participation as an organic phenomenon. In this paper we seek to contribute to debates about public participation by exploring the interactions between policy makers, planners and the public. Our empirical case focuses on the informal participatory mechanisms concerning the development of a high speed rail network in England (HS2). We seek to understand 1) how social actors respond to formal consultation around policy issues, 2) how social actors strive for public deliberation and 3) how ‘informal origins’ of participation emerge and develop.