Development Department
The economists within the Development Department support the Minister and Deputy Minister of Communities in delivering their portfolio goals by providing high quality information and economic advice, and through strengthening the evidence base of key policy areas.
They provide analytical, appraisal, evaluation and advisory support to the Executive's policy divisions in all areas dealing with:
- Housing policy - e.g. assessments of the Scottish housing market, advice for the recent Housing Bill
- Planning policy - input into the impact of the Planning Bill
- Area regeneration policy - work on appraisal of regeneration projects
- Supporting People Bill - advice on policy evaluation
As well as collaborating with Research and Statistician colleagues in Analytical Services on Housing and Area Regeneration research projects, they also provide analytical and advisory support to Communities Scotland's policy divisions on the development, implementation and evaluation of the Community Ownership Programme and Housing and Area Regeneration programmes.
Alongside internal and external briefing notes on the housing market in Scotland and the UK, they also make regular contributions to the Scottish Economic Report and provide housing market analysis and advise to colleagues in the Office of the Chief Economic Adviser and the Bank of England. They further coordinate the provision of Scottish figures for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation - UK Housing Review.