The past 18 months has been a period of unprecedented challenge for us all on both a personal and professional basis. The Planning profession has displayed a significant resilience and agility in responding to the challenges that have arisen throughout the pandemic, ensuring that the planning system continues to function effectively. This has involved embracing electronic delivery of services and new ways of working at pace, with enthusiasm and a high degree of professionalism.
Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) recognises the representative role we have and the part we can play in influencing, driving and implementing change in the planning system at national and local levels. The draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) will be published shortly and responding to it and the programme of legislative reform set out in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 will be the main focus of this year’s business plan. It is important that we also continue to build on the lessons learned and the new ways of service delivery developed during the pandemic.
HOPS approaches the improvement agenda through three strategic objectives:
- re-positioning planning
- resourcing planning
- streamlining and simplifying planning
We seek to work collaboratively and proactively with our partners in national government, in local government and in other stakeholder organisations.
This business plan details more about our priorities and our ways of working to represent senior planning officers in Scotland’s local, national park and strategic planning authorities.
Updated 22/10/2021
HOPS 