Councils will be able to recruit more skilled planning professionals following a £1m funding boost, housing minister Rachel Maclean has announced.
She said the 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 to improve communities.
It will lead to higher skilled jobs, speed up property development and create better neighbourhoods that people are proud to call home.
Ms Maclean said: ‘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 local authorities have ‘substantial skills gaps’ which hinders the ability to deliver good quality new and refurbished homes, sustainable public spaces or accessible town centres and high streets.
‘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.’
