Planning Aid Scotland

Planning Aid Scotland We’re here to help you navigate the planning system and to shape the future of your place. Do you want to receive PAS and other Scottish planning news weekly?

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📢 Free online training and Q&A sessions for Scotland’s island communitiesWould you like to have more say in your island’...
09/10/2026

📢 Free online training and Q&A sessions for Scotland’s island communities

Would you like to have more say in your island’s future, find new ways to involve local people or understand how renewable energy developments are considered?

As part of our Island Communities Place Programme, we have three upcoming sessions to help island residents and communities get involved in planning and decisions affecting their local areas.

📍 LOCAL PLACE PLANS: KNOWING THE ESSENTIALS

🗓️ Wednesday 14 October, 12.30pm

Find out how Local Place Plans can help your community set out its priorities, influence future planning and turn local ideas into a plan for your area.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-islands-local-place-plans-knowing-the-essentials-tickets-1997624203768

💬 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT METHODS: Q&A

🗓️ Thursday 29 October, 1pm

How are other island communities involving local people? Share experiences, learn what has worked elsewhere and ask our community engagement specialists for practical advice.

Prefer to listen and learn from others? You're very welcome too.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/your-island-your-questions-community-engagement-methods-tickets-1997636000051

⚡️ UNDERSTANDING CONSENTS FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS

🗓️ Thursday 5 November, 6pm

How are renewable energy proposals considered in Scotland, who makes the decisions and when can communities have their say?

This introductory webinar will explain the main stages, the difference between local planning applications and larger energy consents, and how to find information and comment on proposals.

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-islands-understanding-consents-for-renewable-energy-planning-tickets-2002207331025

🎟️ All three sessions are free, online and open to people living or working in Scotland’s island communities.

Know someone who might find these sessions useful? Please share this post with them!

What is a Local Place Plan, and how can it help your island community have a stronger voice in shaping its future?A Loca...
09/10/2026

What is a Local Place Plan, and how can it help your island community have a stronger voice in shaping its future?

A Local Place Plan gives communities a way to set out their priorities, ideas and aspirations for their local area.

Join our free online session to find out how Local Place Plans work, what they can help your community achieve, and what’s involved in preparing one.

🗓️ Wednesday 14 October, 12.30pm
💻 Online and free to attend

Book here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-islands-local-place-plans-knowing-the-essentials-tickets-1997624203768

🏡 From extensions and renovations to new homes and permitted development rights, visitors to the Edinburgh Homebuilding ...
09/10/2026

🏡 From extensions and renovations to new homes and permitted development rights, visitors to the Edinburgh Homebuilding & Renovating Show had plenty to discuss with our team.

We joined the show at the Royal Highland Centre on 3–4 October, offering free, impartial advice through one-to-one appointments at the Planning Clinic.

Alongside these conversations, our Planning and Projects Officer Anne Krippler MRTPI delivered seminars on “How to Get Planning Permission: The Key to Unlocking Development Potential", helping visitors better understand the planning process and the steps involved.

It was a great opportunity to speak directly with people about their projects and answer their planning questions.

A big thank you to our staff and volunteers for their support throughout the weekend.

Read our blog about our time at the show: https://www.pas.org.uk/news/homebuilding-renovating-show-edinburgh-2026/

How are other Scotland’s island communities getting people involved in local decisions? What is working well and what co...
08/10/2026

How are other Scotland’s island communities getting people involved in local decisions? What is working well and what could be done differently?

Join our free online Q&A session to hear how other island communities are engaging with local people, share experiences and pick up ideas to try in your own community.

You will also have the chance to ask Planning Aid Scotland’s community engagement specialists questions and get practical advice on challenges you might be facing.

Have something to share? We would love to hear from you! Prefer to listen and learn from others? You are very welcome too.

🗓️ Thursday 29 October, 1pm
💻 Online and free

Book your place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/your-island-your-questions-community-engagement-methods-tickets-1997636000051

Looking for organisations that can support your island community?We have put together a helpful resource showing organis...
08/10/2026

Looking for organisations that can support your island community?

We have put together a helpful resource showing organisations that may be able to offer advice, information, connections or other support.

It includes organisations working across areas such as community development, rural and island issues, climate, land ownership, the environment, local economies, children and young people, and more.

📑 Have a look and see what support could be useful for your community:https://www.pas.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Island-support-directory.pdf

🔍 This resource is part of the Island Communities Place Programme. Find out more about the programme: https://www.pas.org.uk/island-communities/

❓ Know an organisation that should be included? Please contact our Planning & Projects Officer Anne at [email protected]

Highlands & Islands Climate Hub Scottish Islands Federation Play Scotland Young Islanders Network Highlands and Islands Enterprise Scottish National Rural Network

07/10/2026

Local Place Plans: your views wanted

The Scottish Government’s Planning Directorate is reviewing how Local Place Plans are working in practice, including the influence they are having and the support available to communities preparing them.

If you have experience of developing, supporting or working with a Local Place Plan, you are invited to complete the survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=R3T3DoMQ7E24nyfHZQdoQPV72Ep7eKpLhMyr6xo9TghUOE9LRjFXNk5ZV0lKNk8zS1cwNTY0NDlSSS4u&route=shorturl

The survey is open until the end of October.

Would you like to have more say in the future of your island community? Join our free online session, Local Place Plans ...
06/10/2026

Would you like to have more say in the future of your island community? Join our free online session, Local Place Plans – Knowing the essentials, to find out how a Local Place Plan can help your community set out its priorities and ideas for the future.

🗓️ Wednesday 14 October, 12.30pm
💻 Online and free to attend

A Local Place Plan is created by the community and can set out what you would like to see change, improve or develop in your local area. Once it has been validated, it must be taken into account when the relevant Local Development Plan is prepared.

In this introductory session, we’ll explain:
• what a Local Place Plan is
• what it can help your community achieve
• what is involved in preparing one
• whether it could be the right approach for your community

Book your free place here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-islands-local-place-plans-knowing-the-essentials-tickets-1997624203768

Planning a self-build, extension or renovation? Planning Aid Scotland is at the Edinburgh Homebuilding & Renovating Show...
03/10/2026

Planning a self-build, extension or renovation?

Planning Aid Scotland is at the Edinburgh Homebuilding & Renovating Show at the Royal Highland Centre this weekend, 3–4 October.

Come and speak to our planning experts at the Planning Clinic, where you can book a free 15-minute one-to-one session to talk through your plans, questions or planning application.

We will also be in the Seminar Theatre at 11am today and tomorrow for our session “How to Get Planning Permission: The Key to Unlocking Development Potential”.

We will explain how the planning permission process works and share practical advice to help you navigate it.

If you are at the show, come and say hello!

Planning a community project, consultation or local plan and wondering how to get people involved?Join our free online s...
30/09/2026

Planning a community project, consultation or local plan and wondering how to get people involved?

Join our free online session, Beyond the survey: An introduction to community engagement, on Thursday 8 October at 1pm. The session is open to all residents of Scotland’s islands.

Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the-survey-an-introduction-to-community-engagement-tickets-1997633000078

Perhaps the same few people always respond. Maybe your survey has not told you what you really need to know. Or you are simply unsure whether a survey, workshop, conversation or another approach would work best.

Our community engagement session will help you think through these questions before you start.

We’ll look at how to choose appropriate ways to involve people, how to ask useful questions and what to do with the information you gather.

You’ll also explore ways to reach people who may be less likely to attend a meeting or respond to a traditional consultation.

The aim is to help you plan engagement that gives you useful information and gives people a meaningful opportunity to contribute.

Address

7 Montgomery Street Lane
Edinburgh
EH75JT

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441312209730

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