In Scotland, town planning has a special significance. Scottish towns are admired around the world for their character, scale and sense of place, qualities that stem in large part from a long tradition of thoughtful planning. The wide streets and ordered crescents of Edinburgh’s New Town, the industrial heritage of Glasgow, and the coastal settlements of the north all reflect a legacy of planners, architects and communities working together to shape liveable places.

Anne Krippler, our Planning & Projects Officer, said: “I fell in love with Scotland on a school trip. I decided to come back and study Urban Planning at university. I love seeing how my work and the work of my fellow classmates have started to influence and shape Scotland’s towns. Working with communities to improve their neighbourhoods is exciting and rewarding.”

Scotland’s approach to planning began to develop during the industrial revolution, when rapid urban growth created a need for better housing, sanitation and infrastructure. The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), established in 1914, helped formalise the profession and promote higher standards across the United Kingdom. Over the decades, Scottish planning has evolved to reflect changing social priorities, from post-WW2 reconstruction to sustainable development and community empowerment.

For today’s planners, the challenge is one of balance. They must preserve the historical value of Scotland’s unique towns while creating, developing and maintaining places that meet modern needs. That means providing homes people can afford, designing neighbourhoods that encourage walking and cycling, and ensuring that local services, schools and transport links keep pace with change.

Scottish planning is recognised internationally for its emphasis on place-based approaches, where local context, identity and community participation are central to decision-making.

Good planning requires not only technical skill but empathy and collaboration. It involves listening to the people who live in a place and understanding what makes it work for them.

World Town Planning Day

Every year on 8 November, people around the world mark World Urbanism Day, also known as World Town Planning Day. In Scotland, it is a time to celebrate a proud planning legacy and to look ahead at how good planning can help address today’s challenges, from climate change to community wellbeing.

Town planning remains central to shaping how people live and where they belong. It connects Scotland’s rich past with its sustainable future, ensuring that the towns admired across the world continue to evolve with purpose and care.