Reflecting on the National Planning Improvement Framework

Susan Rintoul of the National Planning Improvement team reflects on the first cohort piloting the new National Planning Improvement Framework.

When designing the new National Planning Improvement Framework, we decided to test it incrementally in three separate cohorts throughout 2024/5. We put some quite short timescales to this, suggesting that it will take three months to complete the self-assessment and improvement action plan and hold the peer review workshop. Followed by a month break in between cohorts. We have now reached the end of the proposed timescale for cohort 1 (Apr- July), so it's time for some reflection.

In starting the first cohort, the overall positive reaction to the new framework was very encouraging. Everyone in cohort 1 embraced the pilot approach and was keen to give it a go. The pilot aims to test what works and what doesn’t, and we wanted to get feedback from the planning authorities on the ease of use, including the timescales and resources and the new framework's relevance, usability and effectiveness. As well as the ease of use for other stakeholders involved in the peer-review process.

At the end of July, we’ve now had six of the 10 planning authorities complete their peer collaborative review process, and two finalised improvement action plans have been sent to chief executives. The rest are looking to schedule their peer reviews for August- September. We’re really pleased with how it’s been going.

We’ve attended all six of the peer collaborative review workshops. All have been very positive and constructive throughout. Following the workshop, we sent round a survey to get feedback from the participants. From the 28 who responded, when asked ‘do you feel you were given the opportunity to contribute your thoughts on the Improvement Action Plan?’, everyone responded ‘yes’.