The RTPI in Scotland today (31 March) issued its Manifesto for the Scottish Election Shaping the Future of Scotland: A Planning System to Support Sustainable Change, (pdf 170kb) calling for a Cabinet Secretary with overall responsibility for planning, the establishment of a Planning Committee in the Scottish Parliament and the formation of a new Scottish Planning Forum to ensure that there is political commitment for sustainable development, economic growth and successful places at the very highest levels of Government.

The manifesto, designed to help any future Government in Scotland set its priorities, lays out four cornerstones of planning which the RTPI believes are essential prerequisites for sustainable development. Government needs to ensure that the planning system is central to shaping the future of Scotland, that planning needs to be seen to be central to helping deliver the outcomes politicians and the public want, that the framework needs time to bed down, and that sufficient resources are needed for the system to work.

David Suttie, Convenor of the RTPI in Scotland said: “Planners are passionate people who are totally focused on improving the quality of life for people. Planning ensures that we put the right things in the right places at the right time. It can help achieve economic growth, sustainable development and successful places. The changes made to the system over the last few years have reinforced this, so we do not need radical change but we do need politicians to fully embrace the positive steps that have been made.  That is why we are calling for a Cabinet Secretary, a Planning Committee in Parliament and a Scottish Planning Forum.

“A confident planning system can only help the beleaguered property sector. We know all too well the shortage of affordable homes in Scotland, and many of our members in the private sector are suffering acutely from the recession.  The planning system can enable us to achieve the economic growth required whilst protecting our unique environmental and heritage assets for future generations by bringing certainty to communities and to investors.”

Author:

james butler

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

31-Mar-11

Categories:

 

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