Housing minister announced £1m skills boost for planning professionals

Today, Rachel Maclean announced a £1m funding boost to help councils recruit more skilled planning professionals in a bid to create better neighbourhoods.  

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 the best practice around improving communities in the public sector.

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. 73% of applicants have also never worked in the public sector and 53% have never applied for a job within it, suggesting the need to enhance these workers skillset.

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.

Rachel Maclean, 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.’

Additionally, Pooja Agrawal, CEO of Public Practice, welcomed the funding announcement as she claims planning and placemaking is ‘one of the government’s most important functions as it shapes the places we all live in, work and visit.’

She adds: ‘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.’

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