The local authority has long called for an overhaul of the system to enable communities to have a greater say and provide a more effective system and yesterday it said many of the panel’s recommendations support its suggested improvements.

Results from a Fife Council-led survey of local people, communities and businesses on the Scottish Planning system shows that there is wide-spread support for changes to development planning and future housing and infrastructure delivery.

Cllr John Wincott, Fife Council’s sustainability champion, said: “Reform of the development planning system is much-needed, and this is widely supported in Fife. Our aim is to make the Kingdom a great place for people, communities and businesses, and to do this we need to deliver a planning service that meets local needs.

“An effective planning system must better embrace economic development and regeneration, to ensure that Fife plays a key part in the Scottish economy. Future developments should also be sustainable and supported by local people.”

The report ‘Empowering Planning to Deliver Great Places’ proposes changes to maximise the potential of Scotland’s planning system. The report sets out changes that would see a planning system involving communities in shaping a Local Development Plan, which would be prepared every 10 years. A number of measures seek to better address how key transport routes and new schools are delivered.