Craig McLaren
@craigmclaren.bsky.social
I’m Scotland’s National Planning Improvement Champion, based in the Improvement Service. Planning, placemaking, public service reform and, occasionally, punk rock.
Applications are open for the Future Planners Bursary scheme to support the future pipeline of planners in Scotland. The £5000 bursaries are available to 30 students on an RTPI-accredited Planning Masters in Scotland for 2025/26
www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ma...
www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ma...
Bursary opens to support the future planning pipeline in Scotland
Applications for the Future Planners Bursary in Scotland are open to support the future pipeline of planners.
www.rtpi.org.uk
April 2, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Applications are open for the Future Planners Bursary scheme to support the future pipeline of planners in Scotland. The £5000 bursaries are available to 30 students on an RTPI-accredited Planning Masters in Scotland for 2025/26
www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ma...
www.rtpi.org.uk/news/2025/ma...
The National Planning Improvement Team has published the findings of the 1st National Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey. It captures feedback from those with experience working with planning authorities across Scotland over the past year.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
Customer and Stakeholder Survey
The National Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey is an annual survey undertaken by the National Planning Improvement Team in the Improvement Service.
www.improvementservice.org.uk
April 2, 2025 at 11:35 AM
The National Planning Improvement Team has published the findings of the 1st National Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction Survey. It captures feedback from those with experience working with planning authorities across Scotland over the past year.
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
Reposted by Craig McLaren
New Fellow @craigmclaren.bsky.social is Scotland’s National Planning Improvement Champion at improvserv.bsky.social! Craig’s role involves monitoring the performance of planning authorities to provide advice about what should be improved and how.
See the full list ➡️ acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...
See the full list ➡️ acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...
April 1, 2025 at 1:30 PM
New Fellow @craigmclaren.bsky.social is Scotland’s National Planning Improvement Champion at improvserv.bsky.social! Craig’s role involves monitoring the performance of planning authorities to provide advice about what should be improved and how.
See the full list ➡️ acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...
See the full list ➡️ acss.org.uk/news/the-aca...
March 29, 2025 at 9:48 AM
Latest planning application processing statistics were published by Scottish Government yesterday. Key headlines are that average decision making times for local planning applications was 11.9 weeks and 35.2 weeks for major planning applications. Full details 👇
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Planning Application Statistics 2024/25 (April 2024 to September 2024)
These statistics set out an analysis of planning applications processed by Planning Authorities including the number, and type of applications and the decision times for applications.
www.gov.scot
March 27, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Latest planning application processing statistics were published by Scottish Government yesterday. Key headlines are that average decision making times for local planning applications was 11.9 weeks and 35.2 weeks for major planning applications. Full details 👇
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
My #songoftheweek is That’s Amazing Grace by All Seeing Dolls from their 2025 album Parallel
youtu.be/YXHdw2CWKHk?...
youtu.be/YXHdw2CWKHk?...
ALL SEEING DOLLS (Dot Allison & Anton Newcombe) - That’s Amazing Grace
YouTube video by Jean De Oliveira
youtu.be
March 21, 2025 at 6:26 PM
My #songoftheweek is That’s Amazing Grace by All Seeing Dolls from their 2025 album Parallel
youtu.be/YXHdw2CWKHk?...
youtu.be/YXHdw2CWKHk?...
A Community Wealth Building Bill has been published. Aims to ensure that economic wealth is generated, circulated & retained in local communities. Proposes a Scottish community wealth building statement & local authority community wealth building action plans
www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
Community Wealth Building Scotland Bill
www.parliament.scot
March 21, 2025 at 4:15 PM
A Community Wealth Building Bill has been published. Aims to ensure that economic wealth is generated, circulated & retained in local communities. Proposes a Scottish community wealth building statement & local authority community wealth building action plans
www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
www.parliament.scot/bills-and-la...
The @rtpiplanners.bsky.social has launched its Awards for Research Excellence. Categories cover:
▪️ Academic Excellence
▪️ Wider Engagement
▪️ Early Career Research
▪️ Student Dissertation
▪️ Practitioner Research
www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...
▪️ Academic Excellence
▪️ Wider Engagement
▪️ Early Career Research
▪️ Student Dissertation
▪️ Practitioner Research
www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...
The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence
The RTPI Awards for Research Excellence recognise and promote high quality, impactful spatial planning research.
www.rtpi.org.uk
March 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
The @rtpiplanners.bsky.social has launched its Awards for Research Excellence. Categories cover:
▪️ Academic Excellence
▪️ Wider Engagement
▪️ Early Career Research
▪️ Student Dissertation
▪️ Practitioner Research
www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...
▪️ Academic Excellence
▪️ Wider Engagement
▪️ Early Career Research
▪️ Student Dissertation
▪️ Practitioner Research
www.rtpi.org.uk/events-train...
A new National Planning Skills Commitment Plan has been launched by the Scottish Government to attract more people into the planning profession and build their skills. It is supported by 60 organisations, including @improvserv.bsky.social
www.gov.scot/news/nationa...
www.gov.scot/news/nationa...
National Planning Skills Commitment Plan
Focus on skills and recruitment.
www.gov.scot
March 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A new National Planning Skills Commitment Plan has been launched by the Scottish Government to attract more people into the planning profession and build their skills. It is supported by 60 organisations, including @improvserv.bsky.social
www.gov.scot/news/nationa...
www.gov.scot/news/nationa...
The deadline for applications to the Scottish Government Future Planners graduate scheme is this Wednesday. The initiative is a fantastic opportunity to work across Scottish Government and undertake a post graduate planning degree
www.jobs.gov.scot/future-plann...
www.jobs.gov.scot/future-plann...
Future Planners 2025 - Scottish Government Jobs
The Future Planners Programme is a unique graduate scheme for ambitious graduates, who are eager to step into the world of Planning.
www.jobs.gov.scot
March 17, 2025 at 9:26 AM
The deadline for applications to the Scottish Government Future Planners graduate scheme is this Wednesday. The initiative is a fantastic opportunity to work across Scottish Government and undertake a post graduate planning degree
www.jobs.gov.scot/future-plann...
www.jobs.gov.scot/future-plann...
Warmest congratulations @irenebeautyman.bsky.social ! A very well deserved accolade for someone who is constantly working to help people create better places....
Congratulations to @irenebeautyman.bsky.social, our Place & Wellbeing Partnership Lead, who has been named one of The Planner’s Women of Influence for 2025!
March 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Warmest congratulations @irenebeautyman.bsky.social ! A very well deserved accolade for someone who is constantly working to help people create better places....
Just picked up on this useful advice note published by @rtpiplanners.bsky.social 'An introduction to Planning and AI' that provides helpful information for planners on the key concepts, technology, and tools related to Artificial Intelligence.
www.rtpi.org.uk/practice-rtp...
www.rtpi.org.uk/practice-rtp...
An introduction to Planning and AI
As the tools and technologies available to planners become more complex and autonomous, their impact will inevitably increase.
www.rtpi.org.uk
March 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Just picked up on this useful advice note published by @rtpiplanners.bsky.social 'An introduction to Planning and AI' that provides helpful information for planners on the key concepts, technology, and tools related to Artificial Intelligence.
www.rtpi.org.uk/practice-rtp...
www.rtpi.org.uk/practice-rtp...
My colleague @susanrintoul.bsky.social has written a very interesting think piece paper reflecting on the peer collaborative review aspects of the National Planning Improvement Framework looking at approach taken, feedback received and impact made
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
Think Pieces
Think pieces on planning improvement and the experience and learning gained through the National Planning Improvement Framework.
www.improvementservice.org.uk
March 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
My colleague @susanrintoul.bsky.social has written a very interesting think piece paper reflecting on the peer collaborative review aspects of the National Planning Improvement Framework looking at approach taken, feedback received and impact made
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
My #songoftheweek is Lilac Sky by W H Lung from their 2024 album Every Inch of Earth Pulsates
youtu.be/iPDgQn0_fUw?...
youtu.be/iPDgQn0_fUw?...
Lilac Sky
YouTube video by W. H. Lung - Topic
youtu.be
March 9, 2025 at 5:42 PM
My #songoftheweek is Lilac Sky by W H Lung from their 2024 album Every Inch of Earth Pulsates
youtu.be/iPDgQn0_fUw?...
youtu.be/iPDgQn0_fUw?...
‘I aspire to be like water’: the exquisite buildings of Liu Jiakun, winner of architecture’s top prize
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
‘I aspire to be like water’: the exquisite buildings of Liu Jiakun, winner of architecture’s top prize
He turns steelworks into parks and makes ‘rebirth bricks’ from earthquake rubble. As the novelist, meditator and ‘accidental architect’ wins the Pritzker prize, we look at the masterful temples, caves...
www.theguardian.com
March 4, 2025 at 9:00 PM
‘I aspire to be like water’: the exquisite buildings of Liu Jiakun, winner of architecture’s top prize
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
The first 4 case studies generated through the National Planning Improvement Framework have been published
🤝engagement in the Stirling LDP
🏘️Glasgow's use of the Place Standard
⚡Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework
🐟Extension to MacDuff Aquarium
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
🤝engagement in the Stirling LDP
🏘️Glasgow's use of the Place Standard
⚡Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework
🐟Extension to MacDuff Aquarium
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
Case Studies
A series of case studies about improvement in the planning system.
www.improvementservice.org.uk
March 3, 2025 at 3:02 PM
The first 4 case studies generated through the National Planning Improvement Framework have been published
🤝engagement in the Stirling LDP
🏘️Glasgow's use of the Place Standard
⚡Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework
🐟Extension to MacDuff Aquarium
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
🤝engagement in the Stirling LDP
🏘️Glasgow's use of the Place Standard
⚡Hagshaw Energy Cluster Development Framework
🐟Extension to MacDuff Aquarium
www.improvementservice.org.uk/products-and...
My #songoftheweek is Indigo by Moloko, from their 2000 album Things to Make and Do
youtu.be/5K7EVpxL3lI?...
youtu.be/5K7EVpxL3lI?...
Moloko - Indigo (Official Video)
YouTube video by Moloko
youtu.be
February 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
My #songoftheweek is Indigo by Moloko, from their 2000 album Things to Make and Do
youtu.be/5K7EVpxL3lI?...
youtu.be/5K7EVpxL3lI?...
We have published, through the national planning hub, an insights report on the challenges involved in planning for hydrogen. A blog summarising this is at www.improvementservice.org.uk/insights/202...
The full report can be read at www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/asset...
The full report can be read at www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/asset...
Insights on planning for hydrogen
Craig McLaren discusses the challenges and opportunities in planning for hydrogen that have been identified through discussions with planning authorities, hydrogen industry, agencies and regulators.
www.improvementservice.org.uk
February 27, 2025 at 4:57 PM
We have published, through the national planning hub, an insights report on the challenges involved in planning for hydrogen. A blog summarising this is at www.improvementservice.org.uk/insights/202...
The full report can be read at www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/asset...
The full report can be read at www.improvementservice.org.uk/__data/asset...
I am really pleased to see my latest Planning Positive column published on The Planner magazine's website. It says that it's time for planners to reclaim their role as civic heroes 👇
www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/02/26/w...
www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/02/26/w...
Whatever happened to the heroes?
It's time for planners to reclaim their role as civic heroes, says Craig McLaren.
www.theplanner.co.uk
February 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I am really pleased to see my latest Planning Positive column published on The Planner magazine's website. It says that it's time for planners to reclaim their role as civic heroes 👇
www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/02/26/w...
www.theplanner.co.uk/2025/02/26/w...
Reposted by Craig McLaren
🆕The Improvement Service is 20 years old! 🥳 Our Chief Executive Sarah Gadsden looks back at how the IS has grown over the last two decades, and the impact we have had on local government, in this new hashtag#blog
lnkd.in/eTGXqnsd
lnkd.in/eTGXqnsd
February 26, 2025 at 8:48 AM
🆕The Improvement Service is 20 years old! 🥳 Our Chief Executive Sarah Gadsden looks back at how the IS has grown over the last two decades, and the impact we have had on local government, in this new hashtag#blog
lnkd.in/eTGXqnsd
lnkd.in/eTGXqnsd
It was really great to see Doves at SWG3 in Glasgow last night. Their tunes - old and new - are absolutely sublime.
February 26, 2025 at 7:56 AM
It was really great to see Doves at SWG3 in Glasgow last night. Their tunes - old and new - are absolutely sublime.
The Climate Change Committee has set out a new pathway to a decarbonised UK by 2050. Recommendations include “planning, consenting, and regulatory funding, need to enable rapid deployment of low-carbon technologies”
www.theccc.org.uk/2025/02/26/e...
www.theccc.org.uk/2025/02/26/e...
End the fossil fuel age for a secure and prosperous future. - Climate Change Committee
Today the country’s climate advisors, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), present a new pathway to a decarbonised UK.…
www.theccc.org.uk
February 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
The Climate Change Committee has set out a new pathway to a decarbonised UK by 2050. Recommendations include “planning, consenting, and regulatory funding, need to enable rapid deployment of low-carbon technologies”
www.theccc.org.uk/2025/02/26/e...
www.theccc.org.uk/2025/02/26/e...
Unauthorised environmental impact assessment development enforcement: consultation analysis has been published by the Scottish Government
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Unauthorised environmental impact assessment development enforcement: consultation analysis- summary
This publication is a summary of the responses received to a consultation looking at time limits for enforcement action for unauthorised Environmental Impact Assessment development.
www.gov.scot
February 25, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Unauthorised environmental impact assessment development enforcement: consultation analysis has been published by the Scottish Government
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Scottish Government has published its Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport for consultation. It looks to identify the key challenges and opportunities faced in making a just transition to a net zero transport system by 2045.
www.transport.gov.scot/news/a-just-...
www.transport.gov.scot/news/a-just-...
A just transition for Scotland’s transport sector | Transport Scotland
www.transport.gov.scot
February 24, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Scottish Government has published its Draft Just Transition Plan for Transport for consultation. It looks to identify the key challenges and opportunities faced in making a just transition to a net zero transport system by 2045.
www.transport.gov.scot/news/a-just-...
www.transport.gov.scot/news/a-just-...
Scottish Government’s Planning and Regeneration Directorate has published guidance for candidates looking to apply for its Future Planners Programme 2025. There are 18 places available on the programme.
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...
Future Planners Programme 2025: candidate guide
Guidance for candidates applying to the 2025 Scottish Government Future Planners Programme.
www.gov.scot
February 24, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Scottish Government’s Planning and Regeneration Directorate has published guidance for candidates looking to apply for its Future Planners Programme 2025. There are 18 places available on the programme.
www.gov.scot/publications...
www.gov.scot/publications...