66% of public sector planners in Scotland say their teams lack the capacity to meet demand.
The findings are based on a survey of planners by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). The organisation said its updated State of the Profession report paints a ‘worrying’ picture for communities across Scotland.
RTPI Scotland’s recently released Planifesto 2026 underlines this challenge, calling for long-term investment in planning services, stronger resourcing, and a whole-system approach to funding.
Without sufficient planning capacity, RTPI said housing targets risk leading to fragmented, piecemeal developments that lack the necessary infrastructure to support growing populations and empower rural communities. A shortage of qualified planners could also bring the system to a standstill, with insufficient staff to process planning applications or ensure developments meet local needs.
Dr Caroline Brown, director of RTPI Scotland, said, “The pressures highlighted in this report are deeply concerning, and they mirror what we set out in our Planifesto 2026. Without immediate investment to rebuild planning teams and modernise the system, Scotland risks falling behind on housing delivery, infrastructure coordination and its net zero ambitions. Planners want to help shape a more prosperous and sustainable Scotland – but they need the resources to make that possible.”
