Planning: Proportionality of Assessments Short Life Working Group: March 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Fiona Simpson, Scottish Government (chair)
• Craig McLaren, National Planning Improvement Champion 
• Stephen Tucker, Stantec
• Kevin Treadwell, Fife Council 
• Jane Weir, South Lanarkshire Council
• Tom Barratt, Scottish Government 
• Lyndsey Murray, Scottish Government 

Items and actions

Welcome and introductions

The Chief Planner opened the meeting by thanking everyone for their continued interest and contributions to the group’s work.

Previous meeting note

The group approved the note from the previous meeting without amendment.

Draft blog review

• discussion on draft blog, focussing on its content, tone, style and intended audience.
• final comments on the draft to be submitted by Friday 28 March, ahead of proposed publication.

Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) Working Group update

The Chair of the HoPS working group provided a summary of the on-going work around commonly used and standardised planning conditions.

Next steps

 The group agreed to reconvene in the Summer to continue discussions on the potential to further explore key principles and best practice in the planning system.