RTPI Scotland warns: Fees won’t fix Scotland’s planning system.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland has raised concerns over the Investing in Planning consultation, highlighting that a reliance on planning fees alone will not be sufficient to fix the planning system. In response to the consultation, which focused mainly on planning fees, RTPI Scotland emphasized that fee increases would not serve as a one-size-fits-all solution to the existing challenges within the planning system.

Drawing from feedback provided by RTPI Scotland members, the Institute’s response revealed that simply raising fees would not address the core issues, particularly if the additional revenue generated was not dedicated specifically to planning. Research conducted by the RTPI indicated that current planning fees in Scotland only cover around 66% of processing costs, highlighting a significant shortfall.

One significant point of disappointment for RTPI Scotland was the consultation’s failure to address crucial areas such as plan making and enforcement. Both of these aspects have long suffered from inadequate investment, presenting clear opportunities for enhancement and optimization.

Caroline Brown, the director of RTPI Scotland, emphasised the pressing need to tackle Scotland’s chronic underfunding of planning services to facilitate the development of essential infrastructure, towns, and housing for local communities. While acknowledging the urgency outlined in the Scottish Government’s proposals for investing in planning, Brown expressed reservations about the heavy reliance on fee increases as the primary source of funding.

She stated, “Historically, we have seen that simply raising fees without ring-fencing them or ensuring that the additional revenue is reinvested back into planning services has not yielded substantial improvements. It is vital that any fee adjustments are accompanied by robust mechanisms to guarantee that the funds are channeled directly into enhancing planning services. Failing to allocate additional fee income appropriately may lead to a repetition of past outcomes.”