As part of the ongoing review of Scotland’s planning system, LUC’s planning team was commissioned by the Scottish Government to review the current suite of powers and tools available to Scotland’s planning authorities, and to make recommendations on the need for new approaches.

Planning enforcement plays a critical role in underpinning the legitimacy of the system as a whole.  Our research illustrated strong shared ambitions between stakeholders and a recognition of the key problems facing planning authorities – as well as the need for enhancement to help authorities to make full use of the powers available in resource-constrained times.

Our team is grateful to the numerous planning enforcement officers, community and civic society representatives and key agency officials that gave up their time to contribute to our work through surveys and interviews.

Our research report has been published in support of the Scottish Government consultation on the future of the planning system.  We are delighted that a number of key recommendations have been adopted, and look forward to the outcomes of the consultation.

This work has been highlighted in the professional press, including The Planner, underlining the potential importance of – and interest in – an enhanced approach to enforcement.