Finance Secretary John Swinney has unveiled a new set of reforms to make Scotland's planning system more efficient and to support increased sustainable economic growth.

Backing more simple and transparent processes, the package of improvements includes updating development plans to create greater certainty for investors and communities, quicker decision making from councils on high-quality applications, and a new electronic planning system.

Discussing the new reforms, Swinney commented: "The reforms I am announcing today, in partnership with COSLA, council leaders and chief executives, agencies and the development industry, demonstrate a fundamental shift in the way we approach planning. We will work collaboratively to ensure we make planning quicker and more proportionate.

"Planning is critical to increasing sustainable economic growth - a sustainable, dynamic and growing economy means a better quality of life for all. Planning reform needs to help, not hinder, the economy – especially in the current climate. While the Planning Act has reformed the law, legislation alone will not deliver the fundamental culture change we need. 

"We do not want development anywhere or at any price. What we do want to see is planning valued for its positive, promotional and enabling role much more than it is resented for its regulatory one."

CBI Scotland chair David Thorburn, who worked with the Scottish Government on the package of measures, explained: "The growth of the Scottish economy is more heavily dependent on an effective and straightforward planning system than many realise.

"We believe that planning delays cost Scotland £600 million each year in lost turnover and investment. These reforms are a welcome and detailed response to one of CBI Scotland's greatest concerns.

"It is particularly encouraging that government nationally and locally, and the national agencies, have signed up with developers to a business-like plan for change in processes and culture in Scotland. Scottish ministers should be congratulated for this initiative."

To simplify the process, the Scottish Government is reorganising over 20 separate planning policies into one. The first two parts on the core principles and key elements of the planning system are published today, while the third part on development policy will be published in Spring 2009.