Panel set up to review of Scotland’s planning system

An independent panel has been set up to carry out a review of Scotland’s planning system, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has announced.

The three person group, chaired by Crawford Beveridge, will be tasked with bringing together ideas to achieve a quicker, more accessible and efficient planning process.

Beveridge will work with Petra Biberbach of Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) and John Hamilton of the Scottish Property Federation.

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The review will consider six key issues, including development planning, housing delivery, planning for infrastructure and community engagement.

Neil said: “There has already been significant planning performance improvement as a result of previous modernisation, but I believe that more can be done by all stakeholders so planning plays a more positive and effective role in creating high quality places for current and future generations, while respecting local democracy.

“As set out in the Programme for Government, published earlier this month, this review will look at wide-ranging issues affecting the planning system, including how planning is resourced and how we can streamline and improve our system in Scotland.

“It will aim to increase delivery of high quality housing developments, by delivering a quicker, more accessible and efficient process, and it will reinforce our commitment to a fair and open planning system that works for everyone, especially local communities.”

Following the review, which is due to report in spring 2016, Scottish ministers work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Heads of Planning Scotland and all those with an interest in the planning system, to take forward a reform programme.

However, while welcoming the review, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has expressed its disappointment that there is no chartered planner on the panel.

Pam Ewen, RTPI Scotland convener said: “While the members of the panel bring a lot of expertise, I am astonished and very disappointed that there is not a planner on the panel with recent practical experience of the planning system.

“The success of the review will depend upon knowledge and expertise of how the planning system works from the inside as well as the outside.”

Ewen said she would be writing to Alex Neil requesting that a chartered planner plays a key role, in an advisory capacity to the panel, during this review.

“We want to play a greater role in this review, in facilitating discussion and solutions amongst our members, the planners who work within the planning system every day,” she added.