Scotland: National Rural Network
Connecting Rural Scotland - Promoting Rural Growth

Editor's note: please note we have extended the deadline for questions until 12 noon on 29th March.

In our Ask an Expert feature, you can put your questions to a range of organisations and individuals with expertise in different areas.

Do you have any questions about planning? Here's your chance to have them answered. Send your questions by email to editor@ruralgateway.org.uk by 12 noon on 29th March 2010. We'll send a representative selection of questions to Planning Aid for Scotland and then publish their responses on the website. Please note that questions on specific cases will not be published on the website, however we can pass them on to Planning Aid for Scotland and they will deal with them according to their procedures.

Before submitting your questions, you can find out more about the work of Planning Aid for Scotland and their expertise in this special report from their Chief Executive Petra Biberbach.

Shaping our Rural Communities

Petra Biberbach, Chief Executive for Planning Aid for Scotland

The planning process shapes the communities in which we live, be they urban or rural, fundamentally influencing our quality of life and our experiences with our surroundings. As individuals we all have a vital role and a responsibility in shaping our communities. And it is not just the hardware or buildings which are covered by planning. In fact, it encompasses a multitude of factors which impact on our day-to day lives - from protecting unusual trees, to assessing locations for new wind farms; and protecting and enhancing sensitive rural and urban areas (potentially with well-designed development) to major transport and infrastructure projects (such as the new Forth crossing).

However, it has sometimes been the case that it is less easy than it should be for people to engage with planning, whether because of lack of information or knowledge, the perception that planning is a highly bureaucratic and quasi-legalistic process. But when people get do get involved in local issues and realise that planning impacts on them and future generations, planning becomes tangible and relevant.

Planning Aid for Scotland was established in 1993 to provide people across Scotland with information and support to engage in the planning system, allowing them to take an active role in shaping their environments. We provide a free advice service and training, delivered by our network of over 240 fully qualified and experienced town planners and architects throughout Scotland. We also undertake action research and prepare policy responses to continue to provide and promote best practice on community engagement.

Planning reforms introduced last year mean that there is now much greater emphasis on ensuring that individuals and organisations are fully engaged in the planning process. Our volunteers have a wide range of experience, knowledge and skills to give advice on all planning matters, from renewable energy developments to neighbour notification procedure, and local and national planning policies. Our volunteers can also provide advice on the preparation of statements and precognitions for planning appeals and Local Plan Inquiries/Development Plan Examinations.

In addition to our advice service, we offer a series of specially tailored training programmes which can be delivered as stand-alone events or as a series of workshops. The level of detail provided in each of the workshops progressively increases so that people gain a more in-depth knowledge of the planning system and their role in it. And we look beyond those who are traditionally engaged with planning, to those such as young people and ethnic minorities.

For example Planning to Act® , our arts-based workshop, introduces planning to young people in a fun and creative way, and our Reach Out programme engages Black and Minority Ethnic Groups, including Gypsy/Travellers. Planning for People^TM offers local residents and community groups the opportunity to explore what planning is about, to find out how Scotland's new planning system works and learn how people can play a more active role in it.

In addition, we also offer specialised training for elected members and planning professionals, for example using SP=EED (Scottish Planning = Effective Engagement and Delivery), our toolkit providing practical training to assist planners, developers and communities to develop meaningful and effective engagement.

It is our view that everyone should have access to the planning system and understand how it works, and that is why we are here.

Further information is available at: www.planningaidscotland.org.uk

Here at Planning Aid for Scotland we are keen to hear your points of view and help answer your questions.