More skilled planning professionals will be recruited by councils
following a £1 million funding boost from the government, the
Housing Minister announced today.
Social enterprise Public Practice will use the money to help
councils recruit and develop skilled planners, increase awareness
about careers in local government and share best practice around
improving communities in the public sector.
The money will help councils attract and develop those in the
profession leading to higher skilled jobs, speed up property
development and create better neighbourhoods that people are
proud to call home.
Minister for Housing and Planning said:
Planning plays such an important role in shaping our
neighbourhoods, making sure we have the right housing and
infrastructure to level up the nation.
It is essential that our planning authorities have the skills and
resources they need and today’s funding will make sure the sector
is better equipped to deliver a quality service for local
communities.
Pooja Agrawal, CEO of Public Practice said:
Planning and placemaking is one of local government’s most
important functions as it shapes the places we all live in, work
and visit.
However, it is clear that local authorities have substantial
skills gaps which hinders the ability of developers and councils
to deliver good quality new and refurbished homes, sustainable
public spaces or accessible town centres and high streets.
We are grateful to the Department of Levelling Up for this
funding. We have a proud track record of bringing private sector
planning and placemaking talent into local authorities and
helping them to forge long-term careers in the public sector.
Now is not the time to rest on our laurels but to re-double our
efforts. We have a mission to help every council in England to
find the skilled planners and place professionals they need to
make communities and neighbourhoods better across our nation.
The government recently published a consultation on increases to
planning fees to generate additional income for councils to help
deliver and improve planning services, making sure communities
have the right infrastructure.
This is alongside a wider programme of support and investment in
high quality data and digital technology to reduce the
administrative burdens on local planning authorities and support
faster more efficient decision-making.
Public Practice has attracted more than 2,500 applications to its
placement programme over the past five years, 92% of whom have
been working outside the public sector. Some 73% of applicants
have never worked in the public sector and 53% have never
previously applied for a job in the public sector.
Nine-tenths of Public Practice Associates have chosen to continue
working in the public sector following the conclusion of the
year-long programme. The not-for-profit social enterprise has a
mission to rebuild skills and capacity in the public sector to
help improve places and communities across England.
