Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) is the representative organisation for senior planning officers from Scotland’s local authorities and national park authorities.

The purpose of HOPS is to:

• Promote the profile of public sector land use planning
• Support and promote excellence in planning and planning leadership
• Ensure the delivery of a culture of continuous improvement in planning authorities
• Provide advocacy and coordination to ensure that planning authorities are properly resourced to deliver quality outcomes.
• Represent the collective and majority views of Scottish planning authorities in responding to national consultations, recognising that individual authorities may submit their own individual response.
• Carry out research and survey work with the assistance of Scottish planning authorities.
• Work towards a planning system which is simplified and streamlined, adequately resourced and fit for purpose

HOPS has an Executive Committee which oversees its activities, supported by four sub-committees

• Development Management
• Development Planning
• Performance & Practice
• Climate Change, Energy & Resources