Planning and Architecture

  • eBuildingStandards service launches

    1st September 2016 by

    New service to save time and money. Today we have our official Ministerial launch of our new eBuildingStandards system that streamlines applications through one web portal. We are now one week on from the official system launch, and already it is proving very successful. Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart, said: “The new...

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  • Stakeholder feedback – beta.gov.scot

    29th August 2016 by

    We have undergone changes to the way our information is displayed on our new webpages. We would really like to hear what you think about our content and structure on the new site and get your ideas on any improvements we could make. Your feedback is important to us and will help us to improve and...

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  • Launch of Design Charrettes 2016/17 and Activating Ideas Fund

    11th August 2016 by

    last week the Scottish Government launched the 2016/2017 Design Charrettes programme. This was accompanied by the launch of a new Activating Ideas fund. These two funds, amounting to £300,000 in total are to support the delivery of places that enable a high quality of life, and allow communities to flourish. Since 2011, the Scottish Government charrette...

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  • Self and Custom Build event 2016

    3rd August 2016 by

    We invite you to attend a free event aimed at all with an interest in promoting and supporting the self and custom build sector in Scotland. The afternoon event will bring together guest speakers, developers, planners, land interests and the finance sector, to share ideas and experience on how we can face the challenges, and...

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  • Graduate Placement

    28th July 2016 by

    I started my six month post with Planning and Architecture Division (PAD) at the end of February having graduated with an MSc in City Planning and Regeneration at the University of Glasgow, which followed directly on from a BSc in Environmental Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. In the first week I spent some time talking...

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  • Scottish Ministers response to the report of the independent planning review

    11th July 2016 by

    Scottish Ministers today published their response to the report of the independent planning review panel. The response sets out a mixture of immediate actions and longer-term scoping to be undertaken by the Scottish Government, in collaboration with key stakeholders. The response also outlines a programme of collaborative work which aims to turn the panel’s aspirations...

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  • ‘Reporting from the front’ at Venice Biennale for Architecture.

    14th June 2016 by

    This year’s Architecture Biennale in Venice explored a strong community orientated theme with ‘Places for People’ (succinctly expressed in the title of the Austrian Pavilion) as the overarching  emphasis of the majority of work on display in the key venues of the ‘Giardini’ and the ‘Arsenale’. Alejandro Aravena, the curator of the 2016 Biennale, whose...

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  • Planning Review Panel Statement

    31st May 2016 by

    Today we have published our planning review report Empowering Planning to Deliver Great Places. The report and further background information about the review is available at We are extremely grateful to all those who took part in the review process, through the call for written evidence, the oral evidence sessions and the online discussion forum....

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  • SEA HRA Forum

    24th May 2016 by

    Scotland’s first combined SEA and HRA Forum was held at Atlantic Quay in Glasgow on 28th April. The forum provided an opportunity for both SEA and HRA practitioners to get together and share experiences, knowledge, good practice and ideas. Over 90 delegates attended the forum chaired by Professor Thomas Fischer from the University of Liverpool,...

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  • National Development Plan Forum – April 2016

    16th May 2016 by

    The latest National Development Plan Forum was held at Atlantic Quay in Glasgow on 29th April.    The forum provided the opportunity for Planning Authorities and Agencies from across the country to get together and discuss relevant issues affecting Development Planning and share experiences and good practice. The day was chaired by Dorothy McDonald, Assistant...

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