The Memorandum of Understanding brings together: Community Places (Northern Ireland), Planning Aid England, Planning Aid for London, Planning Aid Scotland, and Planning Aid Wales.

The agreement marks a new chapter for the five organisations, each of which has long championed public participation in planning. It establishes a shared commitment to developing best practice, supporting volunteers and professionals, and ensuring that people everywhere regardless of background can have a meaningful say in shaping their places.

A first in five decades

Planning aid services have existed for more than half a century, with the first established in England to provide free, independent advice to individuals and communities who could not afford professional planning consultants. Originally focused on helping residents navigate planning applications and appeals, planning aid soon evolved into a wider movement promoting fairness, access, and empowerment within the planning process.

Planning Aid Scotland, founded in 1993, continues that mission today as an independent charity working across the country to make the planning system more open and inclusive. Through free planning advice, training, and community projects, Planning Aid Scotland supports individuals seeking to renovate their homes, neighbours responding to proposed developments, and local groups developing Local Place Plans – a mechanism introduced by the Scottish Government to help communities articulate their own priorities for the future.

Shared challenges, shared solutions

The new memorandum recognises the changing context in which planning operates: a landscape shaped by climate change, housing pressures, and the need for public trust in decision-making. By bringing together the expertise of planning aid organisations from across the UK, the partners hope to share lessons on everything from digital engagement to sustainable placemaking.

“This is a genuinely historic step”, said Johanna Boyd, Chief Executive of Planning Aid Scotland. “For decades, each of our organisations has worked tirelessly in our own nations to make the planning system more accessible. But the challenges we face, climate adaptation, the housing crisis, community empowerment, don’t stop at borders. Working together allows us to learn from one another and build more resilient, inclusive planning systems for everyone.”

Under the agreement, the partners will meet regularly to exchange resources, develop joint training programmes, and explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration.

Empowering communities across the nations

In Scotland, the planning system is undergoing significant reform. The introduction of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) has placed stronger emphasis on climate action, community-led development, and wellbeing, principles that align closely with Planning Aid Scotland’s work. Over the past year, the charity has helped thousands of individuals and community groups understand planning policy, prepare Local Place Plans, and respond to complex development proposals.

For many citizens, engaging with planning remains challenging. The process can appear technical, bureaucratic, or inaccessible to those without prior experience. That’s where Planning Aid plays a vital role, bridging the gap between policy and people.

“Planning can sound like a dry subject, but it’s really about how we live,” said Marina Ramsay, Communications & Marketing Officer at Planning Aid Scotland. “It’s about where homes, parks, schools and community projects are located, and whether those decisions reflect the voices of local people. Our work is about giving everyone the confidence and understanding to participate.”

Innovation through collaboration

The memorandum also signals a renewed focus on innovation. Each organisation has been working on innovative tools, with some developing online tools to help rural communities visualise future development scenarios with others piloting new digital mapping resources for local authorities.

By pooling such approaches, the five organisations aim to accelerate progress and strengthen their collective voice in influencing policy discussions at national and regional levels. The partnership also creates opportunities for joint funding applications and shared volunteer training, ensuring consistency of standards across borders.

David McAllister, Director of Operations at Planning Aid Scotland said the collaboration represents “an exciting new phase for community engagement in planning.”

“We often talk about empowering people, but empowerment only works when people have access to knowledge and support. This partnership is about breaking down barriers-between organisations, between professionals and the public, and between the four nations themselves.”

Looking ahead

As the UK navigates complex planning challenges, from delivering net-zero infrastructure to regenerating town centres, the role of independent, accessible planning advice has never been more critical. The new partnership sets out to ensure that public voices remain at the heart of decision-making, wherever they are.

While each planning aid body will continue to focus on its own national priorities, the shared memorandum reflects a growing recognition that collaboration is essential in tackling shared issues.

“The creation of the Planning Aid National Network represents an innovative step towards a more joined-up approach to inclusive, community-led planning”, Boyd added. “It will foster closer working relationships and encourage knowledge-sharing across our Network to benefit those in our communities who are often not listened to. This step forward represents an exciting opportunity to promote collaboration and share best practice across the whole country. Planning Aid Scotland is proud to be a part of it.”