The new office is in a historic Edinburgh lane that has kept much of its original character. The lane is surfaced with cobbles, accessed through an arch and lined with two-storey buildings on both sides.

It is part of a Category C listed group of buildings, in an area shaped by William Henry Playfair’s plans for Edinburgh’s Eastern New Town.

As many planners will agree, historic buildings and places are something to treasure. They help tell the story of our towns and cities and give Edinburgh its unique character.

Joining MyEdinburgh community

Our new office is part of MyEdinburgh, a growing community of charities, social enterprises, freelancers and other people who want to make a positive difference.

It feels like a natural home for Planning Aid Scotland. Collaboration and participation are central to our work, and we are pleased to share space with other organisations and individuals who care about their communities.

What we found during the move

Moving office also meant sorting through many years of Planning Aid Scotland’s own history.

We carefully reviewed the items in our old office and donated many useful things to local schools and charities. We also looked through historic documents that are important to the story of Planning Aid Scotland.

Among them were paper copies of our old newsletters.

From Bonnington Mill to Montgomery Street Lane

Our move gave us an opportunity to look back at some of Planning Aid Scotland’s previous homes:

• 1993: Bonnington Mill
• 2006: South Charlotte Street
• 2014: Princes Street
• 2020: Tweeddale Court

In September 1993, while based at Bonington Mill, Planning Aid Scotland set up a national telephone line offering planning advice to people across Scotland.

Our first newsletter

Among the documents we found was the very first issue of our newsletter, published in January 1994, which you can see below.

Although it was produced more than 30 years ago, its energy and positive outlook still feel very familiar today.

Participation from the beginning

One of the main themes of that first issue was participation.

From the beginning, Planning Aid Scotland has worked to make sure people have the knowledge and tools to take an active part in planning. This includes helping people understand how the planning system works and how they can get involved in decisions about their communities.

The newsletter also mentioned our volunteers. Planning Aid Scotland has always been supported by skilled volunteer planners who give their time and knowledge to help make the planning system fairer, more accessible and easier to understand.

The Advice Service people can rely on

The first issue also celebrated the praise received by our Advice Service, which was already highly regarded. This is something we continue to take great pride in today.

The service has grown significantly and now deals with almost 1,000 cases each year, with 98% of clients saying they are satisfied or very satisfied with the support they receive.

One Advice Service client wrote in 1994:

“Whatever the outcome, we shall always be grateful to your organisation and its voluntary members who are doing such a splendid job. It is just what people need.”

That remains true today.

Planning Aid Scotland’s Advice Service helps people understand how to make a planning application, comment on a proposal, raise an objection or deal with any other aspect of planning. Whatever the final outcome, people can feel confident that they have presented their case as clearly and effectively as possible and received support from professionals who understand the planning system.

No matter what their question is, our aim is to help people better understand their options and take part with confidence.

Supporting island communities

The first newsletter also referred to planning proposals at Lingerbay in Harris.

This feels especially relevant today, as Planning Aid Scotland is continuing its work with island communities through the Island Communities Place Programme.

Funded by the Scottish Government and delivered as part of the National Islands Plan, the programme supports island residents, community groups and local organisations to take part in planning and placemaking.

A new address, the same commitment

More than 30 years later, many of the themes found in our first newsletter remain central to our work: participation, access to advice, volunteer support and helping communities have a stronger voice in decisions about their places.

As we settle into our new office, we want to preserve the same energy, values and commitment that have shaped Planning Aid Scotland from the start.

Our address has changed, but our purpose remains the same.