Professor David McClean, head of the Robert Gordon University (RGU) Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, will this Friday give a presentation to the Chief Planner for Scotland and more than 30 other Heads of Planning from across the country.

Prof McClean will deliver his presentation at the annual Heads of Planning Conference, which is this year being held at Elsick House on June 22-23.

The event, a consultation on the Scottish planning system, gives high profile figures in the industry the opportunity to reconsider how planning can help move the country forward to achieve economic and social targets.

The agenda for this year’s conference considers the role of planning for effective and efficient delivery and David will talk about holistic approaches to housing, incorporating issues of land supply, financial models, planning approaches, and landscape design in addition to architectural and urban design considerations.

He said: “My presentation presents a number of innovative models from the international arena, as well as work which our Masters students in Architecture have been doing in this area.

“Essentially, what I will be talking about is what exactly it is which makes successful places, communities and neighbourhoods.”

Among the other speakers at the two-day event are - James Bream, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce; Mark Lappin, Oil and Gas Technology Centre; John McNairney, Scottish Government; and Arne Eik, Statoil.

The venue for this year’s conference is the historic, Elsick house, provided the location for a project for students at Scott Sutherland School earlier in the year.

The year two Architectural Design students were tasked with developing plans for a bespoke ballroom venue in the walled garden of Elsick Estate, capable of hosting up to 200 people.

Working closely with the Duchess of Fife, whose family own the estate, the students worked hard to develop a variety of creative proposals which went on public display in the city centre.