“Lots of ideas and energy to build on” was how Board Director Dan Sharp summed up Planning Aid Scotland’s recent Board and Staff Strategy Day, which brought people together to reflect on the organisation’s work and its role in Scotland’s changing planning landscape

Our Projects & Training Officer spent 10 days travelling across Shetland by campervan, meeting community groups and supporting the next stages of their Local Place Plans

 At the Homebuilding & Renovating Show Planning Aid Scotland staff and volunteers supported visitors with free one-to-one planning advice on self-builds, extensions, conversions and planning permissions

This weekend, Planning Aid Scotland will be at the Homebuilding & Renovating Show, offering free one-to-one planning advice to anyone with questions about the planning system 

Across Shetland, conversations about the future are happening in familiar places: community halls, Sunday teas, bakery mornings and local events. Communities are beginning to set out their own ideas and vision for the future of their local areas

We recently delivered our Community Engagement Skills Training bringing together professionals from planning authorities, consultancies, energy companies, active travel, community organisations, land and rural businesses

Volunteers joined in person and online for a hands-on QGIS workshop, collaboratively building their digital mapping skills and exploring place-based spatial data 

Residents of Scottish islands and people working with island communities are invited to share their views on what planning training and support is needed

Planning Aid Scotland is about to run the second round of our free Graduate Training Scheme

Planning Aid Scotland is pleased to share a new programme of free online training, running between January and March 2026.