Response to Scottish Government position on planning review
First published on 30 June 2017
The Scottish Government has today published its position statement on the planning review. Ensuring that the places and spaces where we live, work and play have a positive influence on health and wellbeing is a crucial part of improving everyone’s health.
It is welcome news the statement recognises the need for spatial and community planners to work together to get the best quality places and reduce inequality. So too is the recognition of the role the Place Standard Tool has in supporting people who live in communities to influence their design. It is important that public, private and third sector organisations work with local people to create and maintain places that are beneficial to health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Matt Lowther, Head of Place and Equity at NHS Health Scotland, said:
“The community planning agenda has been supporting communities to influence local decision making for some time. Aligning that work with spatial planning has the potential to make the most of all the assets in a given area. We have seen the benefit of using the Place Standard Tool to help structure those conversations and we have shared that knowledge at a recent event. We are confident that as communities and planners work together, the value of involving communities in the design of their spaces will become part of everyday space-based planning and delivery in the future. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government and others to making this happen.”
You can read the full position statement on the Scottish Government website.