Scottish Government

Ministers

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney MSP , has responsibility for the land use planning system

The Minister for Local Government and Planning is Derek Mackay MSP

The SNP 2011 election manifesto includes a number of commitments relevant to planning

Officials

The information below explains how planning fits into the wider Scottish Government context.

Scottish Government

• Permanent Secretary
• Enterprise & Enforcement
• Finance
• Health & Social Care
• Learning & Justice
• Communities & Governance
  
  Directorate for the Built Environment
  
  Planning : Legislation, Performance, Economy, Engagement & Environmental Assessment
  Planning : Planning Reform, E-Planning & South of Scotland
  Planning : National Spatial Planning & North of Scotland
  Architecture & Place
  Building Standards

The Directorate for the Built Environment is split into 5 Divisions : 3 cover the planning system, 1 covers architecture and place and 1 covers building standards. Within each are a mix of civil servants and professionally qualified staff. Each Division is split into Branches which have specific responsibilities. The responsibilities, names and contact details are available in the Contacts section of the main Planning web page.

The key responsibilities of the Planning and Architecture Divisions as:

• Maintaining and developing planning legislation.
• Representing SG interests in development plans, notified applications, recalled appeals and other casework that comes before Scottish Ministers.
• Preparing and monitoring delivery of the National Planning Framework.
• Providing clear and proportionate planning policy and advice.
• Facilitating the dissemination of good practice.
• Promoting high quality design and place making.
• Leading and co-ordinating the implementation of e-Planning.

The Directorate for the Built Environment publishes a Service Improvement Plan annually in the Spring. This reports on it's performance for the previous year and the intended improvements for the following year.