Planning, Infrastructure and Planning Advisory Group: 18 August 2025

Attendees and apologies

Co-Chairs

• Tony Rose, Scottish Futures Trust
• Daniel Hinze, Scottish Government

Core Group

• Richard Ballantyne
• Ian Docherty
• Nick Halfhidey 
• Gareth Hislop
• Martin McKay
• Ailsa Raeburn
• Fiona Simpson
• Paul Smith
• Sara Thaim
• Jane Wood

Support

• Lorna Aird, Scottish Government
• Emma Cairns, Scottish Government
• Lynne Ward, Scottish Futures Trust

Items and actions

Introduction and apologies

Tony Rose welcomed everyone to the meeting and set out the agenda. He reviewed the minute of the previous meeting and addressed comments. Minute agreed. Tony handed over to Fiona Simpson to present the first item.

Place and the Infrastructure Investment Plan

Fiona Simpson presented slides outlining some thinking on Place and the Infrastructure Investment Plan (IIP). Fiona noted the four principles which underpin the Place approach – improve alignment, focus on priority places, bring together planning, infrastructure and place, empower regions and communities – and asked for a group steer on how to embed these into the IIP. Fiona invited thoughts/comments from the Group:

• there is a role for electrical infrastructure to help embed these principles and connect communities. There’s widespread frustration around grid connections
• investment strategies must be better integrated across sectors. For example here is an opportunity to clarify the links to strategic transport documents where there remains some confusion on plans
• being clear on the connection from vision to objectives and outputs was suggested
• Local Development Plans (LDPs) are vital for identifying investment pipelines and phasing development and will help anchor a place-based approach
• while the IIP isn’t driving significant private investment, it can serve as a useful framework to coordinate efforts and link public and private to attract investment. Environment and Forestry and other land management bodies are aligning investment with public interest. Their processes mirror place-based planning and should be coordinated
• empowering communities: we should ensure local governments are supported to engage effectively with businesses and national bodies
• on priority places, can we connect dispersed communities across Scotland with shared challenges into thematic clusters e.g. housing? This could achieve shared solutions despite geographic separation.
• Fiona thanked the group and acknowledged the value of their contributions.

IIP 21-27 evaluation

Daniel Hinze updated the group on plans for the next IIP. The draft IIP to be presented to the Infrastructure Investment Board on 18th September then to Cabinet Secretary for review by end of September. The draft IIP to be published in December.

The pipeline will also be published in December alongside the Spending Review and IIP. He noted the IIP and Pipeline are to be decoupled.

Daniel followed on with a presentation on the findings from the Exchequer Analysts on the IIP evaluation, which consisted of four focus groups of internal and external stakeholders. In discussion, the group noted:

• concern around the current IIP being viewed as meaningless and the importance of addressing this issue for the next IIP
• if separating the IIP and pipeline for next IIP, how do we focus on delivery as it helps attract private investment. Businesses/investors make investment based decisions on these documents

• it was agreed that finding the right balance of detail in the new 10-year IIP would also be important

Any other business and closing remarks

Tony brought the meeting to a close.

He noted the next meeting is scheduled for October (date tbc) and will focus on the draft IIP.