Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has today published the second in a series of ‘thinkpieces’ that aim to stimulate debate and discussion on key challenges and opportunities arising from the National Planning Framework and the Planning Act.
The latest discussion paper looks at the role of the office of the new National Planning Improvement Coordinator, focusing on its vision and values, status and reporting lines, roles and responsibilities. This new role was introduced by the 2019 Planning Act to monitor the performance of planning authorities and to provide advice to them and others on what can be done to improve.
The new paper sets out ideas to support the establishment of the new role such as the need for it be independent, collaborative and constructive in its work and how it should have a role in not only monitoring performance, but also supporting organisations and sharing good practice. It also calls for the function to be properly resourced.
RTPI Scotland Convenor Barbara Cummins MRTPI says that she hopes that the thinkpieces will support Scottish Government to take forward new approaches to improve the planning system.
Commenting on the latest paper, Barbara said: “The Planning Coordinator function has the potential be a gamechanger in providing a powerful new resource for all users of Scotland’s planning system. If implemented well it has the potential to raise the profile of planning and strengthen the ability of the system to deliver on many of Scotland’s priorities.”
The first thinkpiece paper, published last week, aimed to inform National Planning Framework 4 regarding rural planning policy.
>> Read the latest thinkpiece on the office of the new National Planning Improvement Coordinator
>> RTPI Scotland welcomes comments and views on the thinkpieces – email [email protected] or via social media using the hashtag #rtpithinkpieces
