Planning Directorate

Planning Directorate delivers Ministers' statutory responsibilities and policies. Ensuring Scotland:

• has a high-performing planning system
• supports sustainable land use
• supports regeneration
• promotes architecture and urban design

The Directorate helps create thriving communities and contributes to all First Minister priorities and national outcomes. It does this by applying professional expertise and operational experience.

Responsibilities

We are responsible for:

• making Scotland the most attractive part of the UK to invest in by improving planning systems and performance
• tackling the climate and nature crises by streamlining planning and energy consenting
• administering applications for major energy infrastructure, including onshore wind, solar, battery, hydropower, and energy networks
• responding to the housing emergency by working with partners to maximise opportunities to build the right houses in the right places in the numbers required
• delivering place-based-regeneration, town centre revitalisation and community led investment to help enable disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life and support a wellbeing economy
• sponsorship and oversight of Architecture & Design Scotland (A&DS), a non-departmental public body who deliver programmes to maximise the benefits of good quality design 

Who we are

Cabinet Secretary and Ministers

Management