What assessment it has made of the current and projected demand for qualified town planning professionals across Scotland, and what action …

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges facing the planning profession in Scotland and we have taken account of a range of research. The Royal Town Planning Institute’s State of the Profession 2025: Scotland report shows the aging demographic profile of the profession and the need to attract and develop future planners. Research undertaken by Skills Development Scotland and the National Planning Improvement Team’s annual Workforce and Capacity Report highlights that further action is needed to meet demand for planning professionals and ensure sufficient current and future capacity within the planning system.We are taking action to ensure that planning services have the capacity, skills and expertise needed to operate efficiently and to increase confidence and certainty in the planning process. This complements other organisations’ investments in their professional planning teams.Last year, the Scottish Government invested £850,000 to help reverse the decline in the planning profession by creating the following pathways into planning for 48 new student planners:17 graduates joined our award-winning Future Planners Programme, undertaking a two-year programme of work-based learning.A further 30 students received support through our Planning Bursary Scheme while undertaking professionally accredited planning degrees.We are also developing talent within Government by supporting a member of staff to undertake a part-time, work-based planning qualification.This year, a further £150,000 has been offered to Dundee, Glasgow and Heriot-Watt Universities, through our Planning Bursary Scheme, with the funding shared across the three universities to support access to RTPI-accredited postgraduate planning courses across the country.The first cohort of Future Planners is expected to be qualified and career-ready by July 2027, supporting a pipeline of planners. We are currently developing options for a second iteration of our Future Planners Programme.