A new body designed to lock in and accelerate improvements to Scotland's planning regime is to be launched next month to promote discussion between the public and private sector on how best to boost the system.
The Scottish Forum for Planning, to be chaired by the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland, a 2200-member charity, will "provide vision and direction for planning in Scotland" by tackling problems, supporting reform and better performance, and sharing information to maximise joint working and minimise duplication.
The initiative was launched in the wake of a speech at the Scottish Parliament by recently-appointed Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay MSP, in which he laid out the Scottish Government's vision for planning, including a closer link between performance and financial reward to councils.
Recent poor statistics have underlined concerns that planning is not doing enough to promote economic growth six years after the passing of the 2006 Planning (Scotland) Act intended to reform the system.
Intended to meet three times a year, the forum's membership will include the Scottish Government's planning department, the heads of Planning Scotland, Planning Aid for Scotland, Homes for Scotland, the Scottish Property Federation, the Key Agencies Group, the Law Society of Scotland, Cosla, RIAS, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Scotland, SOLACE Scotland, Scottish Environment LINK and CBI Scotland.
Bob Reid, RTPI Scotland's convener, said in response to the minister's speech: "We want planning to build on the pillars of excellence, effectiveness and efficiency so that it can deliver sustainable economic growth, great places for people and a low-carbon economy. This can be done without the need for major legislation. Rather it relies on a commitment to continuous improvement by all involved including local authorities, developers, Scottish Government and key agencies. It requires them to develop new approaches collaboratively and we are committed to making this happen."
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