SCOTLAND’S public finance minister has told Project Scotland of his desire to see the nation’s planning system operate more quickly, amid a new strategy to attract more people into the profession.
Ivan McKee MSP was speaking during a visit to the Water Row site in Glasgow – part of Govan Housing Association’s Govan Cross development – where he was joined by planning students and professionals at the launch of the National Planning Skills Commitment Plan, which aims to provide a more direct approach to ensuring Scotland has the required level of planners.
“We want to do things as fast as possible,” Mr McKee said. “You’ve got to do things correctly, but I think those things don’t necessarily need to be in conflict with each other. If we do it right, we can still do it in a reasonable timeframe and respond to what the industry wants to see – which is faster decisions so they can move forward with developments.”
The programme already has over 100 leaders across 60 organisations in the built and natural environment professions on board. Training and skills development will be provided through hands-on learning, webinars, and recruitment support.
A plethora of young planners – including those currently in studies and others at the start of their careers – gathered to hear the announcement, with Mr McKee praising their passion before adding that such enthusiasm and continued investment in good development will be key in bringing more youngsters into the profession.
“I think one of the problems has been that maybe young people aren’t aware of the opportunities that are there,” he continued. “When you articulate it in terms of the impact it can have on neighbourhoods, people, societies and so on, I think it’s really attractive – but part of the issue has been that young people haven’t been aware of it as a career and a lot of the work is to help point that out.”
Organisations already on board range from universities and local authorities to developers, architecture firms and professional bodies. They will work directly with the Scottish Government to raise awareness and ensure young people have an understanding of planning.
Mr McKee explained that attracting youngsters into the profession will not only help set it up for the future but also ensure Scotland’s planning sector is on track to adopt innovations, thanks to young people’s familiarity and understanding of technology. As well as young people, there is also scope for more experienced workers with transferrable skills transitioning from other sectors to help fill recruitment gaps.
“Anyone that’s looking at planning and thinking they’d like a change absolutely can,” Mr McKee said. “Coming into planning from another profession in the construction industry (for example) – they’d bring great experience through their previous career.”
The Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) State of the Profession 2023 report revealed that the number of planners working in the public sector had dropped by over 20% from 2010 to 2023, whilst private sector planners had almost doubled in the same timeframe.
Saying that he believes the private sector is becoming ‘increasingly aware’ of the need for balance on both sides of the planning sector, Mr McKee has hopes for greater collaboration, through the new Commitment Plan, to get things moving and also believes that the ‘broad experience’ of those who have moved about can be leveraged to see the planning system operate more quickly.
Previously having expressed concerns at the time taken for decisions to be made on planning applications, Mr McKee also told Project Scotland that there are causes elsewhere contributing to delays.
“We’re now focusing on where the other blockages are in the system to understand how we can free up some of those developments that have got planning permission but haven’t been completed yet, so there’s quite a lot of focus on that,” he continued. “It’s about looking at the whole chain and seeing where we need to address challenges so we can get more units coming out the other end.”
Many of the students who gathered to hear Mr McKee’s announcement at Water Row are actively studying the Govan development’s transformative influence on the local area. Completed in early 2024, the new £29 million site, now connected by Partick Bridge, sits within Clyde Mission and is one of Scotland’s National Developments. It features stylish flats and townhouses with commercial spaces on the ground floors.
“Clearly every location is going to have its own environment to fit into, its own surroundings, its own visuals and needs,” Mr McKee stated when asked if the development will be used as a blueprint. “Every development is going to be different, but the approach of how you work with all of that in a coherent and joined up way is the lesson learnt from what’s happened here and in other developments – it’s a fabulous development – and fits with the Commitment Plan’s housing theme.”
Those within the built and natural environment industry wishing to sign up to the new commitment plan or find out more can do so by contacting the Scottish Government planning architecture and regeneration directorate via Susan.Stirling@gov.scot.
• Details of the Commitment Plan can be accessed at www.ourplace.scot/resource/training-and-recruitment-opportunities
