Planning for People
Planning Aid for Scotland provides free independent and impartial advice on land use planning - a team of qualified and experienced planners volunteer their time. The Executive's Planning Division has supported Planning Aid for Scotland's advisory work.
The Planning for People programme was funded by the New Opportunities/Fresh Futures Fund till the end of October 2004, and the grant from the Sustainable Action Fund supported it from November 2004. This awareness raising and training programme has:
- provided training to community groups, including awareness of the National Planning Framework;
- built bridges between planning authorities, developers and the community;
- provided independent and impartial advice;
- supported and promoted the Executive's commitment to public participation outlined in "Your Place, Your Plan";
- supported and promoted environmental justice by helping people participate in decisions affecting their day-to-day lives;
- endeavoured to engage with younger people.
Planning Aid for Scotland's 2004 work included work in areas of the Cairngorms and Perth and Kinross, area regeneration in Fraserburgh and a new settlement in the Borders. It therefore complemented Friends of the Earth's environmental justice project (funded through a Sustainable Action Grant), which enabled communities to use opportunities in the planning system and raise awareness, concentrating on some worst affected areas (such as North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire).
The work began with six awareness raising events and five workshops, in locations including Aberfeldy, Portree, Golspie, Fochabers and Castle Douglas. Around 120 people attended each type of event - members of community councils, tenant and resident associations, and community and environmental groups.
Issues raised at the workshops included loss of greenbelt, concern over flooding, lack of affordable housing, large windfarm proposals, regeneration of town centres and preservation of existing conservation areas and funding new use for old buildings.
Positive outcomes included:
- participants felt more confident in participating because of a better understanding of how and why decisions are made - and how to have a say at the right time;
- community councils were encouraged to engage the wider community through better communication of planning matters;
- bridges were built between communities, planners and developers.
The project continued with higher demand than expected.
Between March and June 2006, there were presentations and workshops in Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Shetland, Westerton in East Dunbartonshire, and East Kilbride.
The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 and Planning Advice Note (PAN 81) "Community Engagement - Planning with People," March 2007, on community engagement, increased interest in public participation in planning.
In January and February 2007 there were events for The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority in Callander and Strachur to help local people have a better understanding of the planning system, allowing more effective participation in consultation events for the first Park Local Plan. The events were very well attended and helped to forge better links between the planners and the communities they work with. Many issues raised by the Park Authority were shared by the community: protecting the environment, affordable housing and sustainable development were all high on the agenda.
In March 2007 there was a workshop in Scone in partnership with Perth and Kinross Council. With significant developments facing Perth, affected communities were being consulted on the review of the new Local Plan for the area - building on the greenbelt, airport expansion, new bridge and large scale housing developments being just a few of the challenges facing planners and communities alike. The workshop helped participants to see how they could influence the new Local Plan and use their local knowledge to shape the future of their communities.
The emphasis on more public participation in planning in the new Act increased the need for the Planning for People programme.
Planning for People picked up a main award in the 2007 Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning - for outstanding performance and quality for Community Involvement. Planning Aid for Scotland's Training Manager, Karol Swanson, accepted the award from Judge Joan Burnie who said: "This entry is an excellent example of encouraging positive engagement. This unique programme helps communities to understand the hard choices that need to be made and encourages them to engage positively, making best use of their time and resources."
Planning for People has not only provided opportunities for communities to learn how they can be actively involved, it has also given the volunteers invaluable experience working with communities. Participation in the programme has helped them to have a better understanding of the barriers that prevent people from participating in planning.
The Planning for People programme continued with further grant from the Sustainable Action Fund in 2007-08.
Contact
Planning Aid for Scotland
11a South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4AS
Tel: 0131 220 9730
E-mail: training@planning-aid-scotland.org.uk
www.planning-aid-scotland.org.uk