Planning Performance: High Level Group minutes - September 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Public Finance
• Cllr Gail Macgregor (Chair), COSLA Spokesperson for Environment and Economy
• Chris Cox, (South Ayrshire Council) Heads of Planning Scotland
• Paul Macari, (Aberdeenshire Council) SOLACE
• Rob McIntosh, (Aberdeenshire Council) SOLAR
• Dr Caroline Brown, Royal Town Planning Institute
• Peter Noad, (Scottish Enterprise) Key Agencies Group
• Craig McLaren, National Planning Improvement Champion
• Susan Rintoul, National Planning Improvement Team
• Johanna Boyd, Planning Aid Scotland
• David McAllister, Planning Aid Scotland
• Jacqueline Cook, Applicant Stakeholder Group
• Calum Lindsay, COSLA
• Andy Kinnaird, Scottish Government 
• Barry Stalker, Scottish Government
• Tom Barratt, Scottish Government
• Chris Sinclair, Scottish Government
• Euan Robertson, Scottish Government

Apologies 

• Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Welcome and opening remarks

Cllr Macgregor welcomed the group, including Chris Cox as Chair of Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) and Jacqueline Cook representing the Applicant Stakeholder Group.

The Minister reflected on: the Scottish Government’s Housing Emergency Action Plan, published 2 September; highlighted the live consultations on Compulsory Purchase Reform and how permitted development rights can help address the housing emergency; the recent committee session on the Climate Change (Local Development Plan) (Repeals) (Scotland) Order 2025; progress on PFG commitments of decluttering outdated planning guidance, and the rapid auditing of key agencies’ planning teams, and; the onboarding of 17 “future planners”.

Minute of previous meeting and action points

The minute of the last meeting was agreed by the group and an update was provided on actions:

Action from previous meeting: Key Agencies Group to engage with National Planning Hub team on the sharing of professional expertise.

Status: Ongoing

Update: The Hub has engaged with SEPA and Transport Scotland in relation to aspects of the Hub’s work.

Action from previous meeting: NPIC to provide update on Customer Care actions at the next meeting in September.

Status: Complete

Update: To be discussed at Agenda Item 6

Action from previous meeting: NPIC to involve SG in the approach for the review of the NPIF. 

Status: Ongoing

Update: N/A

Action from previous meeting: Chief Planner to raise importance of progressing LDPs and preventing further slippage with Chief Planning Officers at HOPS Annual Conference on 19 June.

Status: Complete

Update: Resourcing and timing of LDP replacement to be discussed at item 3.

Local Development Plans

The Minister acknowledged concerns around slippage of adopting new style LDPs ahead of May 2028, five years on from the new LDP system coming into force.

Concerns were raised around inconsistencies in the gate checking process, and the group flagged that transitional guidance, during the interim period before new LDPs were adopted, would be useful for developers. The Scottish Government recognises these concerns, with Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate (PARD) and Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) currently engaging on these issues with a summary guidance paper being prepared. The National Planning Hub has also supported work to progress LDPs, and remains open to bids.

It was also noted that more transparency about timescales for the LDP process would be useful, and that, whilst the delivery of housing is a significant priority, it is not the only pressing issue with LDPs and economic opportunities to drive forward demand for housing is also important. The group acknowledged that with the National Planning Framework now part of the statutory development plan, this does provide some policy direction for authorities and applicants where new style LDPs have not yet been adopted.

• Action: SG to share LDP Gatecheck Guidance with group when published.
• Action: Standing item on Local Development Plans to be added to future High Level Group agendas.

Housing Emergency Action Plan

The Cabinet Secretary for Housing made a statement to Parliament on 2 September, announcing the Housing Emergency Action Plan. The Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Minister for Public Finance also wrote to stakeholders to set out expectations regarding actions required to meet the housing emergency. There are 4 actions for planning in the action plan, sitting under the pillar focused on supporting growth and investment in the housing sector:

• A Notification Direction on all applications for 10 or more homes on sites which are not allocated in an LDP.
• A Ministerial / Chief Planner letter on the need for proportionality in the planning system in relation to SME housebuilders.
• A consultation on measures to accelerate house building delivery.
• A Customer Service Sprint to strengthen planning service quality, led by the National Planning Improvement Champion (NPIC).

The Notification Direction was issued on 2 September, after the statement to Parliament, and information is now being received from planning authorities, with monitoring in progress. A Q&A document has been provided to HOPS to support understanding of this new notification requirement, and PARD officials are currently preparing a response to a HOPS letter which seeks more detail regarding implementation. It was emphasised that this should be a fairly light touch approach, and should not burden authorities’ resources.

The letter on the need for proportionality, and consultation on accelerating house building delivery will follow shortly.

The Customer Service Sprint is informed by evidence gathered through the NPIF and Customer Survey which has shown that customers have not always had positive experiences with local authorities. The National Planning Improvement team hosted a webinar earlier in September with authorities, government, and agencies to explore good practice, and have held workshops with authorities and met with the RTPI.

• Action: NPIC to provide update on Customer Service Sprint at next High Level Group meeting.

Greater guidance on viability in planning was also highlighted as something that would be helpful, with Scottish Property Federation also offering to assist with this work.

• Action: SOLAR and HOPS to engage with Planning Hub on developing guidance/training for viability in planning.

Applicant Stakeholder Group priority issue - resourcing

Jacqueline Cook attended the High Level Group on behalf of the Applicant Stakeholder Group to discuss the resourcing of the planning system including: progress made following the Investing in Planning consultation; the role of the Planning Hub, and; what stakeholders can do to assist were raised as points for discussion.

Short-medium term progress has seen planning fees increased and targeted support from the Planning Hub to local authorities. Longer term actions have included bursaries being trebled to help 30 additional students with course fees and living expenses, as well as 17 “future planners” recruited to help develop a new generation of skilled professionals. 5 additional planning bursaries, secured by Homes for Scotland and administered by RTPI, have also been awarded to help planning students over 2025-26. It was noted there was scope for other sectors employing planners to also support the future growth of the profession.

Planning Aid Scotland’s advice service was also highlighted as an important tool in absorbing pressure from local authorities, as well as their graduate training scheme to invest in the future of planning. PAS have also published resources such as guides on renewable energy and the consenting process.

Key Agencies have also been providing more information to applicants, and pushing back on consultations, issuing guidance to HOPS to help sift what applications Key Agencies need to be involved in. AI systems have also been put in place at NatureScot, and are being looked into at SEPA to streamline processes.

Update from National Planning Improvement Champion (NPIC)

The National Planning Improvement team provided an update on the NPIF, as well as the earlier update on Customer Care.

The pilot of the NPIF is now in year 2, with 31 authorities having completed the process, 2 authorities completed the peer review process and their reports will be published soon, and the National Planning Improvement Team has been engaging with the remaining authority to help them progress. An end of pilot survey has also been issued, with feedback showing 100% of local authorities agreeing that the 12 attributes of a high-performing planning authority in the NPIF are sufficient, and over 90% responding positively when asked about the peer review process.

An annual Workforce and Capacity survey has also been issued, with a deadline of 10 October, and the next Customer and Stakeholder survey will be issued on 1 October, running for 3 months to allow stakeholders more time to respond, closing at the beginning of January.

An Improvement Leads network has also been established as an opportunity for authorities to come together and discuss common themes and actions from their experience of the NPIF. This was raised at the last HOPS sub-group on Performance and Practice, and the group was supportive.

• Action: NPIC to present findings of Workforce and Capacity Survey at next meeting.

National Planning Hub

An update was provided on the support that the Hub has been offering, including:

• surge capacity - providing resource for immediate direct support
• brokerage – bringing stakeholders together to tackle issue and remove barriers, e.g. housing delivery
• wrap around support – professional capacity, efficiency and practice

The Hub has engaged with authorities to establish their needs and asks, and has provided support to 14 authorities. 7 authorities have indicated that no support is required at this stage, and responses have not been received from 10 authorities.

4 grant offers have also been issued, with grant aid now over £250k.

Recent surge capacity support has seen funding for 3 staff to deliver the MCA for Housing linked to a Green Freeport, as well as the recruitment of a Principal Planner at an authority specifically to progress their LDP. Wider support has also been offered to authorities including training support for LDPs and EIAs, the development of planning guidance for Battery Energy Storage Systems, and the use of the hydrogen support programme in engagements with authorities and industry/developers.

The Hub is now nearing the conclusion of its first phase of direct support, and is now looking to secure funding to continue to provide further support.

• Action: HOPS and COSLA to raise awareness with authorities that haven’t yet engaged the services of the Hub.
• Action: National Planning Hub to share slides presented with the group.

Any other business

Cllr Macgregor and the Minister offered their thanks to Johanna Boyd, who is moving on from her post as Chief Executive Officer for Planning Aid Scotland.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday 17 December 2025, 10:00-11:30.