Planning Aid
Planning Aid provides free, independent and professional planning advice to communities and individuals who cannot afford to pay consultant fees. It complements the work of local planning authorities, but is wholly independent of them.
Since it was established by the Town and Country Planning Association in 1973, Planning Aid has been at the forefront of engaging communities in the planning process.
Planning Aid aims to empower local communities by helping them to effectively engage with the planning process and influence decisions that affect their neighbourhood. The service is targeted at people who would otherwise be excluded from participating in local decision making.
Planning Aid involves over 700 volunteers in delivering both the casework and community planning activities. Many of our volunteers are Members of the Institute and benefit greatly in terms of skills development from the volunteering experience that Planning Aid offers. If you are a member and you are interested in volunteering for Planning Aid then contact the Volunteer and Skills Manager on 0121 766 5298 or Email. To download the recruitment pack click on the following link Volunteers Pack.
The regional structure of Planning Aid enables it to provide a service responsive to the needs of local communities.
Planning Aid also has an independent service in London as well as Scotland and Wales.
NEW GOVERNMENT FUNDING BOOSTS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK
Planning Aid funding will be almost doubled to £3.2m this year, allowing it to increase the service it provides.
Hazel Blears, Communities and Local Government Secretary made the announcement in a speech today (Tuesday) in which she highlighted the need for people to have a proper democratic influence on the planning system.
Planning Aid, which provided planning advice and support to more than 38,000 individuals and groups last year, was created specifically to help those on benefits, pensioners, low income households, small charities, voluntary and community groups and some types of tenants’ organisations with planning issues.
Dave Chetwyn, Head of Planning Aid England, said: “Planning Aid is extremely effective at empowering local communities and helping them have a real influence over the development of their areas. The excellent news on funding will allow us to expand our work and give even greater numbers of people a say.
“The funding we get from government means we can help more people, empowering them to influence planning decisions. Planning Aid is completely independent and impartial and aims to help people to understand the planning system so they can put their views forward.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
1. Details of today’s announcement can be found at the CLG website here.
2. Planning Aid complements the work of local authorities but is wholly independent of them. London and each English region has its own Planning Aid service, sponsored by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and coordinated by Planning Aid England and Planning Aid for London. Each year support is provided nationally to over 745 organisations and support has been provided to almost 38,000 individuals. The service is supported nationally by over 600 professionally qualified volunteers.
3. Planning Aid assistance is provided in two main ways. Casework – by providing help and advice to groups and individuals on a wide range of specific planning problems and opportunities. Community Planning – by giving training, support and information to help local community groups play an active part in planning their own areas. Further information is available at: www.planningaid.rtpi.org.uk
For further information contact: Dave Chetwin (Planning Aid) on 07771756711.
Registered Office Address: Royal Town Planning Institute, 41 Botolph Lane, London EC3R 8DL. Registered Charity No. 262865.
Community involvement in the planning system hits record levels
At the recent Annual Planning Aid Conference in Newcastle it was announced that almost 38,000 individuals and groups across England had been helped by the charity over the past year.
