The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has expressed its disappointment that the independent panel launched by the Scottish Government to review the planning system does not have a chartered planner on it.
RTPI Scotland writes:
Pam Ewen, RTPI Scotland Convener said: ‘While the members of the panel bring a lot of expertise, I am astonished and very disappointed that there is not a planner on the panel with recent practical experience of the planning system. The success of the review will depend upon knowledge and expertise of how the planning system works from the inside as well as the outside.’
‘While the members of the panel bring a lot of expertise, I am astonished and very disappointed that there is not a planner on the panel with recent practical experience of the planning system. The success of the review will depend upon knowledge and expertise of how the planning system works from the inside as well as the outside.’
‘I will be writing to Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil requesting that a Chartered Planner plays a key role, in an advisory capacity to the panel, during this review. I will reiterate that RTPI Scotland would welcome greater involvement. I wrote to Mr Neil two weeks ago seeking a meeting to discuss how the Institute can be further engaged in the review. To date we have not had a response. We want to play a greater role in this review, in facilitating discussion and solutions amongst our members, the planners who work within the planning system every day.’
‘RTPI Scotland welcomed the review of planning in Scotland as an opportunity to ensure that we maximise the potential of the ?planning system when it was announced at the start of the month.’
Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil announced today that the review is to be undertaken by an independent panel. The three panel members will be able to look at this from their particular economic development, property and community engagement perspectives.
Further details on the review process are to be forthcoming within the next few weeks.
