Organisation Information

Purpose

Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) is the representative organisation for senior planning officers from Scotland’s 32 local authorities and two national park authorities.

The primary purpose of HOPS is to:

• Promote the profile of public sector land use planning.
• Support and promote excellence in planning leadership.
• Ensure the delivery of a culture of continuous improvement in planning authorities.
• Carry out research work to support the Scottish planning system.
• Work towards a planning system which is adequately resourced and able to deliver quality outcomes.
• Promote and facilitate the benefits of a career in planning.

HOPS has an Executive Committee which oversees its activities, supported by four sub-committees; Development Management, Development Planning, Performance & Practice, and Climate Change, Energy & Resources.

Overall Goals

In delivering on the specific purpose of HOPS, in terms of a positive and constructive contribution in making Scotland a successful, sustainable and well-connected place to contribute to the quality of life for its people, the goals are:

• Supporting sustainable economic growth and community wealth building;
• Protecting natural assets;
• Delivering quality places that are well connected;
• Putting health and wellbeing outcomes at the heart of our places;
• Engaging with our communities to meet their place outcomes; 
• Supporting the continued learning and training of local authority officers;
• Promoting partnership working on improvement projects across local authorities, with Scottish Government and other partners such as RTPI and COSLA;
• Promoting and facilitating a career in planning to a wider audience using different entry routes and working with university partners.

Objectives

The planning system in Scotland is recognised internationally as an exemplar of best practice but it must continue to display a willingness to adapt and innovate if it is to retain its position of credibility and influence. National Planning Framework 4 – A National Spatial Strategy for Scotland 2045 is an ambitious plan which recognises that Planning is a powerful tool for delivering change on the ground.  Based on 6 the spatial principles of:

HOPS supports these key planning outcomes for Scotland and supports the new National Outcomes announced by the Scottish Government, in particular the planning related areas:

HOPS will continue collaborate with government and engage with other stakeholders, in shaping the planning system, in respect of the 3 strategic objectives set out below, which set out HOPS vision for the planning system. We see the following national plans and strategies being key in the progression of our work.

Resourcing

There is a need for suitable and proportionate investment in the planning system to properly resource a high performing system capable of delivering the outcomes we all aspire to at a national and local level. This is seen as a critical “game changer” for HOPS which needs to underpin all planning reform changes. Full and suitable cost recovery is needed to enable reinvestment in key planning work areas and improved performance levels. The need for fully staffed and resilient planning authorities is another key aspect of resourcing which HOPS will continue to support and influence.  

Repositioning

Planning needs to be repositioned as a strategic enabler, as well as a statutory, regulatory function. It has to be at the core of local authority activities and needs enhanced recognition within national and local government as a critical contributor to the economic/ regeneration and environmental agendas, including plan making, climate change, community wealth building, healthy places, community engagement and in general place making.

HOPS will continue to support members to use the the role of the Chief Planning Officer to ensure that planning plays a key role in local authority decision making.

Delivering Outcomes

Following the publication of National Planning Framework 4, a priority will be for planning authorities to deliver on the aspirations set out within the framework. Planning authorities will not be able to do this alone especially given the major challenges of the nature, climate and health crisis. Key to a successful system will be partnership working with other stakeholders in the planning system. HOPS aim to improve our connections with stakeholders in the planning system to promote the work of local planning authorities, influence policy and legislative change, and deliver quality places and outcomes.

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Updated 28/9/23