Future Planners Programme 2025: candidate guide

Planning in the Scottish Government

Planners work in three key areas of the Scottish Government:

• Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD)
• Energy Consents Unit (ECU)
• Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA)

Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD)

The Scottish Government Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD) is responsible for:

• overseeing and reforming Scotland’s statutory planning system
• the Scottish Government’s regeneration strategy, and associated programmes of investment in our communities
• the Scottish Government’s approach to architecture and urban design
• the development and implementation of legislation and national planning policy
• ensuring that the planning system plays a key role in delivering high-quality places for Scotland
• processing certain planning applications and appeals

Read more about PARD.

Energy Consents Unit (ECU)

Scottish Ministers are responsible for approving applications for a range of planning projects.

This includes projects relating to:

• onshore electricity generating stations
• applications to install overhead power lines
• applications to install large oil and gas pipelines, and their associated infrastructure

These cases are administered by the Energy Consents Unit.

Read more about the Energy Consents Unit.

Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA)

The Planning and Environmental Appeals Division of the Scottish Government (DPEA) plays an important role in the planning appeals system. It determines certain appeals against decisions made by planning authorities and other bodies across Scotland.

An appointed person (normally a reporter) decides most appeals. In a small number of cases, Ministers will make the decision following the appointed reporter’s submissions and recommendations.

Read more about DPEA.