The resourcing of the planning system is a widely acknowledged challenge, particularly in relation to the delivery of much-needed new homes.

With an estimated need for around 700 new planners over the next 10-15 years, sector body Homes for Scotland (HFS) secured five new “Future Planners” bursaries totalling £25,000 to help attract talent from a variety of disciplines into this vital profession by assisting with course fees and living expenses as well as providing mentoring opportunities.

The new bursaries will be administered by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and augment the 30 already available via Scottish Government grant funding to students on RTPI-accredited Planning Masters courses across Scotland’s three planning schools (University of Glasgow, University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University) for the 2025/26 academic year.  The organisations behind the donations are Brodies, Mac Mic Group, Miller Homes, Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey.

HFS Director of Planning Kevin Murphy said:

“At a time when the Scottish planning system has never been under greater pressure it is important to help support the next generation of planners into what are critical careers.  In what is our 25th anniversary year, HFS is delighted to have facilitated these five new bursaries with the generous support of members and to be part of the solution to addressing what is a vastly under-resourced function.”

RTPI Scotland Director Dr Caroline Brown said:

“At the RTPI, we’re working hard to ensure a continuing pipeline of qualified planners are entering the workforce.  The “Future Planners” bursary scheme present an excellent opportunity for students from varied backgrounds to play an important role in shaping the future of planning in Scotland.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to Homes for Scotland and its supporting members.  Such partnership is essential if we are to address not only the skills shortage in the planning system but also the housing emergency and ensure Scotland has the homes of all types and tenures required to meet the needs of its population.”

Supporting quotes:

“Brodies is pleased to support the next generation of planners through this postgraduate bursary. With Scotland facing a critical housing shortage, investing in planning talent is essential to delivering the homes our communities urgently need.”

Elaine Farquharson-Black

Partner, Brodies LLP

At Mac Mic Group, we’re deeply committed to addressing Scotland’s housing emergency. As we celebrate our centenary, this initiative underscores our dedication not only to tackling long-term planning challenges but also to nurturing the next generation of talent. Beyond financial support, the bursary recipient will gain invaluable hands-on experience by shadowing our planning team, offering a unique perspective on the entire development process—from securing planning consent to on-site delivery.
Ross Mickel

Group Director at Mac Mic Group

“Miller Homes is proud to support the planners of the future.  By providing this backing for training, we’re investing in the next generation who will help shape the sustainable communities of tomorrow.”

David McGrath

Executive Managing Director, Scotland and North, Miller Homes

“Encouraging more people to pursue a career in planning is key to delivering the homes we need. By supporting the next generation of planners, we can help ensure local authorities have the skills and capacity needed to bring forward well-designed, successful and sustainable communities.”

John Roocroft

Regional Chair, Persimmon Scotland and North West England Division

“Scotland needs a robust and dynamic planning system.  It is fundamental to fostering sustainable economic growth and enabling thriving communities through the delivery of much-needed all-tenure homes.  At Taylor Wimpey, we recognise that attracting new talent to the profession is crucial to driving innovation, expertise, and resilience within the sector.  We are looking forward to collaborating with our partner university to deliver an enriching learning experience that equips future planners with the skills and knowledge to shape Scotland’s places of tomorrow.”

Ian Drummond

Divisional Chair, Taylor Wimpey – Scotland, North East and North Yorkshire

“We are delighted that students who are choosing to study our MSc Spatial Planning with Sustainable Urban Design during 2025/26 can benefit from the bursaries being provided by Homes for Scotland members.  These are an attractive offering for those who may be considering a career in planning having studied in another complimentary programme or returning to study at a different point in their career.  Collaboration by both practice and academia is essential in supporting a vibrant and diverse community of future planners.”

Kirsty Macari

Associate Dean (Education and Student Experience), University of Dundee

“We are delighted at the announcement of this generous support from Homes for Scotland members for students pursuing accredited planning Masters programmes at Heriot-Watt University. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of planning professionals and addressing the critical skills needs of Scotland’s built environment sector. We are deeply grateful for this investment in our students’ futures and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on both individuals and the planning community.

Dr Sacha Hasan

Head of Planning and Real Estate, Heriot-Watt University

“We strongly welcome investment in planning skills which are so vital for the health of the sector through these generous bursaries from Homes for Scotland. The University of Glasgow is committed to its role as a civic university that helps governments, businesses and communities meet complex challenges. Our revised MSc in City Planning responds directly to the rapidly changing planning sector, from digital skills, renewable energy and the retrofitting of our cities for net zero. This bursary will therefore ensure we have more graduates who are well equipped to become future leaders across the built environment sector.”

Dr Andrew Hoolachan
Programme Director City Planning, University of Glasgow

ENDS

09 June 2025