Former First Minister to launch new alliance ahead of Planning Bill

A new alliance of organisations has been formed with the aim of working towards a more ‘inclusive, collaborative and innovative’ planning system when the Planning Bill is introduced to Holyrood later this year.

The Scottish Alliance for People and Places, chaired by former First Minister Henry McLeish and comprising 10 planning and placemaking organisations, will launch its campaign in Edinburgh this morning.

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Speaking ahead of the event, McLeish said: “This group of expert organisations has come together for the first time because they recognise the scale of the opportunity ahead to address what is ultimately a relationship between people and communities and Scotland’s planning system in need of renewal.

“The truth is that in many communities across Scotland, planning is viewed as an imposition - something done to us by big developers in partnership with local government.

“It’s often about stopping the development we don’t like, rather than working together to plan the positive developments we want to see - local parks, schools, hospitals, housing.”

He added that the alliance wants to work with the Scottish Government and Parliament to present an “ambitious vision for a refreshed and revitalised planning system in Scotland that plans and delivers the quality economic and social development our country needs, but through collaboration and dialogue”.

“Over the coming months, we will harness the experience and expertise of our members to offer constructive policy solutions that we believe can make this type transformational cultural change a reality,” he said.

“Ultimately, this is about homes and the places in which we live and work. If Scotland wants to realise our shared dream of a home for everyone, we have to create a new and positive mood which empowers the planning system to help deliver it.”

The members of the Alliance are: COSLA, Institution of Civil Engineers, PAS, Paths for All, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, RSA, RTPI, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Scottish Mediation Network and Scotland's Towns Partnership.