Labour amendment gives young people more say in planning process

Scottish Labour has secured an amendment to the SNP’s Planning Bill which they say will give children and young people more say on changes to the communities they live in.

Young people will gain more say in the planning process

Under the plans, schools and young people aged under 25 will gain a greater role in the planning process if the Bill is passed later this year.

Scottish Labour’s proposals also include the stipulation that planning authorities must consider if there are enough play opportunities for children.

Scottish Labours MSP Monica Lennon secured the changes to the Planning Bill despite SNP opposition on Holyrood’s Local Government and Communities committee.

Monica Lennon MSP

Ms Lennon, who was a town planner before entering politics, said:

This is the Year of Young People and Scottish Labour passionately believes that children and young people should be shaping their own future and that includes decisions about how our communities are developed.

Decisions taken now about housing, transport, the economy and environment will determine the kind of communities young people will inherit and it’s only right that the voices and aspirations of those young people are at the centre of decision-making.

We also know that the ability to play is important to the development and wellbeing of children but too often vital play areas and open spaces in our communities are at risk.

Scottish Labour wants a planning system that always considers the best interests of children and young people and that’s what our proposals will achieve.

Jack Dudgeon MSYP, Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament

Jack Dudgeon, Vice Chair of the Scottish Youth Parliament, also welcomed the changes to the bill saying:

We believe that young people should be consulted on decisions that affect them, and that local authorities need to do more to ensure they are actively consulting with young people on issues like planning, in line with Article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

We are grateful to Monica Lennon for her efforts to ensure that young people must be consulted in local planning decisions, and especially for the recognition in the amendment of the role that Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament can play in supporting planning authorities to achieve that.

This article first appeared at The Red Robin and is reproduced with permission.