Building planning capacity and capability
Details on the new capacity and capability programme, to support local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners.
Applies to England
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities alongside other stakeholders in the planning sector have developed a new capacity and capability programme, to help local authorities deliver an efficient planning service for all.
This programme will support local planning authorities to attract, retain and develop skilled planners, as well as encouraging a new pipeline of planners to enter the profession. It will provide direct support now where it is needed most and create upskilling opportunities for those already within the sector.
This programme combined with our wider plans to increase planning fees, and work with authorities to develop and adopt new digital planning tools, will help to create a more modern, efficient, and sustainable planning service.
The role of planning is essential for the building of the homes, infrastructure, and places needed for the benefit of all our communities.
About the Programme
The programme has been developed alongside a working group formed by representatives from local government, professional bodies, and the private sector. This engagement has enabled a series of support interventions to be developed, in addition to the provision of targeted funding that aims to boost planning skills across local planning authorities and the wider planning sector.
To reinforce our existing planning sector knowledge and experience and to track the impact of this programme we have launched a Local Authority Planning Skills and Resources Survey with the results expected in autumn 2023.
Below we provide more detail of the range of support interventions within the programme and the intended outcomes they will deliver.
Developing pathways into planning
Through a range of new funding, we are extending and increasing our existing bursaries through the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). This will result in over 50 students receiving a £5,000 planning bursary for post-graduate study to support their future career in planning.
In addition, we are supporting the Local Government Association to develop a new Planning Graduate Programme. The recently announced Pathways to Planning Programme will place talented graduates in local councils, where initially 30 people will be able to secure a placement, while receiving a bursary to study towards a master’s degree qualification in planning.
Providing direct support
Recognising the current demands on the planning system we have launched a new £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund. This funding will support local authorities over the next 2 years to tackle backlogs in planning applications and boost their internal capacity and capabilities. Local authorities can find out more about the fund and access the application form on the Planning Skills Delivery Fund guidance page.
To surge additional resources to the frontline, we will also be standing up a £13 million programme that will deploy teams of specialists into local planning authorities, starting with a trailblazing pathfinder in Cambridge.
We have also awarded the social enterprise Public Practice £1 million to help councils recruit and develop skilled planners. This placement programme will be extended to more locations allowing even more local authorities to recruit experienced and skilled planners.
Creating opportunities for upskilling
As part of this programme, we have extended and increased our funding to the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) for the next 2 years. PAS is a recognised partner that provides consultancy, peer support, learning events and online resources to support local authorities. Through this support they will be and developing a skills audit to identify the gaps and opportunities for future development.
In addition to the results of the skills audit, we are planning to provide funding to support delivery of targeted technical training, to address both the current skills gaps and to build readiness for change that will be required to meet the needs of the future planning system.
Why this Programme is so important
Our communities need well-designed homes and places to support families and our children to be able to own their own home. We need a strong planning sector to support that delivery and this programme provides essential capacity and capability building to give us the opportunities to achieve this.
Rachel Maclean MP, Housing and Planning Minister
The planning profession plays a vital role in shaping the design of our communities, and pride in place. We have clearly heard the needs of the sector, and of local government and so this programme is about providing the targeted support and recognising the importance of planning to every aspect of our lives, from where we live, to our access to green spaces and how we travel.
Joanna Averley, Chief Planner, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities