planningarchitecture
Written 105 posts
The benefits of pre-application discussions and processing agreements
24th April 2025
This blog highlights the benefits of collaborative pre-application discussions and processing agreements. Both can help to provide greater clarity and certainty to prospective applicants and make the planning application journey smoother, quicker and potentially cheaper. Pre-application discussions Pre-application discussions are discussions between a prospective applicant and the relevant planning authority prior to the submission of…
Championing proportionality of planning assessments
3rd April 2025
Requiring or providing too much or too little information to accompany planning applications can add costs and delays to the determination process. That is why we convened the Proportionality of Assessment Short Life Working Group. This blog highlights key principles and best practice identified by the Group. It promotes a proportionate approach to planning applications…
Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group Annual Report 2025
13th February 2025
After a busy few months, the Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group (PIPAG) have published their first Annual Report, on the 13 February 2025. PIPAG was established to find solutions to infrastructure challenges, support the delivery of National Planning Framework 4, and to promote joined-up, place-based delivery of development and infrastructure in Scotland. The group, which…
NPF4 Policy 16 Quality Homes – Statements of Community Benefit
23rd December 2024
New housing can bring benefits to an area, and NPF4 Policy 16 requires applications for 50 homes or more to explain some of these positive impacts. Representatives from planning authorities, the development industry and community sector met on 26 November 2024 to explore existing approaches to Statements of Community Benefit, and opportunities to refine practice….
How can permitted development rights help address the housing emergency?
21st November 2024
Our Planning and the housing emergency: delivery plan sets out the actions we will take so that planning plays its full part in addressing the housing emergency. The delivery plan indicated that we would consider and engage widely on the potential scope for further permitted development rights which could support housing delivery in specific circumstances….
Town Planning as a Green Career: Refreshing thoughts for young people
8th November 2024
This year World Town Planning Day coincides with Green Careers Week 2024. The Careers Week is a series of events aimed at supporting young people to consider the value of learning ‘green’ skills and considering future career path opportunities within the built and natural environments. By focusing on the ‘green’ sector, it highlights the value…
Investing in Planning – Next Steps
23rd September 2024
Investing in Planning – Next Steps The Investing in Planning consultation set out a range of proposals aimed at increasing the capacity of the planning system, particularly planning authorities. The consultation ran from February to May 2024 and we have published the responses and our summary of those responses. Proposals for implementation In response to…
Compulsory Purchase Reform
9th July 2024
IntroductionCompulsory purchase in Scotland is widely regarded as being in need of reform. As part of our wider planning reforms, the Scottish Government has committed to improve and modernise the system in order to help support the delivery of development, infrastructure and regeneration projects that are in the public interest. In this blog, we explain…
The Private Sector and LDP Evidence Reports
24th April 2024
How to get involved The first round of local development plan (LDP) Evidence Reports are under preparation by planning authorities across Scotland. We want these to support a delivery focused planning system; this will demand early and proactive engagement between planning authorities and all stakeholders. We want to see positive and open conversations which promote…
NatureScot are inviting views on the development of a biodiversity metric for Scotland’s planning system
4th April 2024
NatureScot are inviting views on the development of a biodiversity metric for Scotland’s planning system. In September 2023, the Scottish Government published independent research undertaken by SRUC into ‘Approaches to Measuring Biodiversity in Scotland’. The findings and recommendations of which set out pragmatic next steps to ensure a consistent and cross-government approach to measuring biodiversity…