The provision was agreed yesterday during the committee’s scrutiny of the Planning (Scotland) Bill.

The RTPI has been campaigning on the need for chief planning officers across the UK and Ireland given that the head of planning is a member of the top management team in only 17% of councils across the UK, despite the fact that planning is, like social services and education, a statutory function. 

RTPI chief executive Victoria Hills said: “I am delighted to see that the Scottish Parliament has recognised the value of good planning by introducing statutory Chief Planning Officers. This means that Scotland is leading the way in putting planners front and centre to help deliver sustainable development, inclusive growth and social justice. This can only benefit communities across the country so I hope that other administrations across the UK follow this example.”

The Institute’s director for Scotland, Craig McLaren, added: “Our thanks go to Scottish Government for taking on board our arguments on the need for Chief Planning Officers and for subsequently tabling the amendment to the Bill which was passed today. We will continue to work with them to ensure this is taken forward into the Act and to shape the regulations which will provide the detail.”

As part of its work aiming to influence the Planning Bill, RTPI Scotland published a think piece on the need for statutory chief planning officers in March 2017, which outlines how a chief planning officer in every local authority would support and improve decision making on strategic policy and investment. The paper argues that recognition of the importance of chief planning officers would result in a better - planned approach to service delivery and development.

RTPI published research in June this year showing that planning is absent from top table in 83% of councils in the UK.