Significant changes are taking place to Scottish planning legislation and the processes of the planning system.
However, legislation on it's own cannot deliver the improvements needed. Changes to the culture of how individuals implement new processes are equally important.
What is Culture Change in Planning?
Culture Change in Planning Q&A provides answers to some fundamental questions on what culture change is about.
Delivering Planning Reform
To help implement a change in culture Delivering Planning Reform was launched at the first Planning Summit in October 2008. This document aims to significantly increase co-operation between stakeholders and speed up the pace of reform. It contains over 30 joint commitments agreed and supported by:
- Scottish Government
- Local and national park authorities
- COSLA
- Key agencies
- Development industry
- Private consultants
- Planning schools
- Professional bodies
Monitoring
The commitments are monitored regularly. A second Planning Summit was held at the end of April 2009 to report progress to stakeholders.
The Monitoring Statement outlines progress on each of the commitments and will be updated monthly.
Further information on the following commitments is available.
- Convenors Meeting
- Road Shows
- Scottish Government Performance & Improvement Plan
- Agency Service Improvement Plans
Joint Agency Working
The joint agency working group has forwarded this letter to Local Authorities indicating their willingness to engage in Development Planning and Development Management.
Key Aspects of the New Planning System provide summaries of the new development planning and management systems, including the key:
- principles to influence behaviour and implement a change in culture;
- changes to process;
- documents that provide guidance on the new systems.
These summaries are intended to provide an overview of the key elements of change.
Development Viability
The Scottish Government agreed to work with the private sector to develop a firm programme to better explain the importance of development economics in planning. A Draft Guide on Development Viability has been prepared with the intention of finalising it following a series of dissemination events.
August 03, 2009 saw legislation relevant to the introduction of the modernised planning system come into force. Over a series of articles the Scottish Government will highlight how different individuals involved with the planning system are each personally experiencing changes to the processes and culture of their work. These are personal contributions, not those of the organisations for whom the individuals work.