Planning and Environmental Appeals: business plan 2021 to 2025

Improvement work 2021 to 2025

With the aim of continuously improving DPEA's efficiency and effectiveness, in order to further enhance the reputation of the planning system in Scotland, we will continue to focus on improvement of our services. We will consult on ways in which we can encourage enhanced participation in the appeals process and improve the quality of our decision making.

We will continue to:

• focus on service improvement
• develop our IT systems
• consult on ways in which we can encourage enhanced participation in the appeals process and improve the quality of our decision making
• embed business improvement policies designed to broaden and deepen the skills of all reporters
• develop the experience and competence of less-experienced reporters
• liaise with our stakeholders and sister organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to share and implement best practice
• take steps to improve our efficiency in meeting targets for making decisions on appeals and other cases
• focus on cases where inquiry sessions are held
• investigate the technical and other requirements of expanding our offer of hybrid in-person/ virtual hearings and inquiries
• review our approach to succinct decisions, ensuring a proportionate deployment of resources
• continue to work with Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division (PARD) to progress improvements to the planning system in Scotland, in particular on draft NPF4 and revised development plan examination arrangements
• work on our programme of meetings with councils to share and implement best practice on appeals and other casework
• work on our programme of early engagement with planning authorities to make it easier to submit local developments plans for examination
• engage with planning authorities to improve the submission process for core path plans