Our Planning and Projects Officer Anne Krippler MRTPI spoke about the different layers of the planning system and how the Island Communities Place Programme can help people understand how to get involved in these processes. 

The presenter also highlighted our upcoming Q&A session on planning and policy, which will give people the chance to ask questions about how the planning system works, how planning can impact communities and how decisions about development are made. 

With renewable energy projects coming forward across Scotland’s islands, communities may also want to know what happens next, how they can have a say and what community benefit can look like in practice. 

Free support for Scotland’s island communities

The Island Communities Place Programme is funded by the Scottish Government and supports delivery of the National Islands Plan.

It is open to people living in Scotland’s island communities, as well as those whose work involves supporting island communities.

The programme aims to make planning easier to understand and help people participate more confidently in decisions about their places.

Support includes free online training, question and answer sessions, resources and one-to-one mentoring.

Join our free training and Q&A sessions

Our programme covers a range of topics, from understanding the basics of the planning system to developing Local Place Plans and improving community engagement.

Upcoming sessions include:

• Planning and Policy Q&A – 1 October Bring your questions about planning and policy and hear from our planning team.
• Beyond the Survey – 8 October
Explore practical ways to engage your community beyond traditional surveys and hear approaches that can help you reach a wider range of people.
• Local Place Plans the essentials – 14 October
Learn more about what Local Place Plans are, how they work and the key things to consider when developing one.
• Local Place Plans Q&A – 12 November
Ask questions, share experiences and hear how other island communities are approaching their Local Place Plans.
• Digital tools for community engagement – 10 December
Explore digital tools that can support community engagement and community-led planning.

We are also offering sessions focused on renewable energy.

Our renewable energy sessions look at questions including how communities can engage with developers, how the planning system relates to renewable energy projects, and the different forms community benefit can take, including partnership working, benefits in kind, shared ownership and revenue.

One-to-one mentoring

Communities can also access free mentoring through the programme.
Mentoring gives you an opportunity to speak directly with someone from Planning Aid Scotland about the issues your community is working through.

You might want support understanding part of the planning process, developing a Local Place Plan, planning community engagement, considering a renewable energy proposal or simply working out what your next steps should be.

The support is shaped around your community and the questions you want to explore.

Listen to BBC Radio Orkney

You can hear Anne discuss the topic in an interview on BBC Radio Orkney’s Around Orkney programme, available now on BBC Sounds.

To find out more about the Island Communities Place Programme, see the full programme of training and Q&A sessions, or ask about mentoring, visit: pas.org.uk/island-communities