PAS is here to help you navigate the planning system and shape the future of your place.
With consultation about to close on the draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), a Scottish Government Planning Circular on Local Place Plans recently published, and widespread adoption of the Place Principle, there’s lots happening in the world of planning and placemaking in Scotland.
PAS (Planning Aid Scotland) is here to help. We are a charity and social enterprise working across Scotland, and I’m David Wood, key point of contact between PAS and Community Councils. I’d like to let you know about the services we offer and share some of the work we have been doing recently. Read on to find out more!
Advice Service
We offer a free, impartial and confidential Advice Service to help with any planning issues. Our Advice Service is available to individuals and community groups, including Community Councils, for advice on any planning issues in your community. We also provide information about the planning system, with specific information sheets about common issues, and details of how to contact the planning authority in your local area. Visit the Advice page on our website to find out more.
Talks
Would your Community Council like to know more about the planning system and how it works? PAS can provide a lively and informative overview of planning in Scotland from our team of friendly, experienced planners. Please contact me if you’d like to discuss arranging a talk for your community – this can be done online or face-to-face.
Training
PAS can also provide training to Community Councils on the Scottish planning system and their role within it. This training can also be tailored to cover any specific requirements you have. Training is usually commissioned by the Local Authority on behalf of Community Councils in the area and can be scheduled on a Saturday or weekdays/evenings as suits. Please contact me if you would like to know more.
Community Engagement
Are you looking for support with a local project? Through our social enterprise arm, PAS can provide with all aspects of community engagement, from developing your engagement strategy to facilitating the process of creating Local Place Plans and Community Action Plans. Our approaches are tailored to local circumstances and budget, and the outcomes you are looking to achieve, and we build a specialist team for each project from our pool of experienced staff, associates and volunteers.
We can also advise on funding opportunities. This includes the new Investing in Communities fund which will open for applications in April 2022, for projects starting in 2023. The application window is only expected to be 4 weeks so prompt submission recommended. Local Place Plans and community action plans could be supported through this fund, and PAS is happy to support you to develop an application if you would like to work with us.
Work in progress …
To give you a flavour of the work we are currently doing:
– Supporting the community in Morvern to develop a Community Vision and Action Plan. Read all about it on our Life Live Morvern blog post
– Offering talks to community groups around the country, with recent engagements in St Andrews, Haddington and the Forth & Clyde Valley
– Preparing to work with a Community Council in Edinburgh to support public engagement activity around local area improvements
And finally … we would like to hear from YOU!
Please complete our short survey to tell us about your needs and interests in relation to planning.