On Tuesday 21 March 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announced a £1 million allocation to social enterprise Public Practice to help councils recruit and develop skilled planners. The funding aims to help councils attract and develop professionals, speed up property development and create better neighbourhoods.
RIBA President Simon Allford said:
“RIBA has long stated that the Government must invest in building up the capacity of local authority planning departments, particularly with qualified design expertise - and that includes many of the skills provided by architects.
This new fund is a step in the right direction, but more funding and resources must be allocated to local authorities to build the high-quality, sustainable homes and public places that we need. We look forward to responding to the DLUHC consultation on planning fees in due course.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. Media contact: Press.Office@riba.org
2. The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
