planning reform - "how we move on now"

Planning reform continues to attract lots of interest. There was a very high turnout at our seminars in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh - many thanks again to our expert panel members for their insights.

Royal Assent - the Bill becoming the Act - encouraged a discussion about the future - "how we move on now".

Key points included:

Reform is a continuing journey
Scottish Government are still preparing their programme - for producing NPF4, reviewing regulations, providing new guidance, and progressing digital planning
A high performing planning system is about everybody
The importance of collaboration
Changing behaviours (a more helpful term than culture change - everyone can, and should, take responsibility for changing their behaviour)
It remains a plan-led system, but with fundamental changes to the hierarchy of plans
Lots of interest in the timing and scope of the new regional spatial strategies - no answers yet
Plans - difficult to identify the critical path and dependencies - unclear which plan comes first - eg. will the new RSSs precede NPF4?
10 year cycle for NPF and LDPs might give less opportunity for participation, scrutiny and intervention
Local place plans - lack of formal role for key agencies such as Transport Scotland
Not everybody is happy with the Act - how do we address the dissatisfaction of some communities?