Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Set out how the Capacity and Capability Programme will improve and retain planners for LPAs.
Conclusion
We are unconvinced that the Department is adequately addressing staffing capacity and capability issues within local planning authorities. Research from the sector suggests staffing in LPAs is a serious problem. The Royal Town Planning Institute’s 2023 State of the Profession report found that, in the period 2013–2020, around a quarter 3 of planners left the public sector, while the private sector grew by two-thirds. A 2022 survey by the Local Government Association found that 58% of local authorities in England experienced difficulties in recruiting planning officers. Staffing issues within LPA planning teams are largely due to the working environment, caseloads and pay, and many planners find opportunities in the private sector more attractive. Additionally, the imbalance in capacity and capability between the public and private sector mean that larger developers are generally better resourced with people who have specialist negotiation skills. The Department states that it will provide around £12 million for the recruitment and retention of planners, for a graduate scheme and to encourage more mature professionals with multidisciplinary expertise into LPAs. It also points out that there is a provision in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will allow LPAs to set their own planning fees, which should help them improve their staffing and service levels. recommendation Alongside the Treasury Minute, the Department should write to the Committee setting out, in detail, how the Capacity and Capability Programme will improve the pipeline of new planners and help LPAs to retain experienced planners.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees and details its Planning Capacity and Capability Programme, which aims to expand the planner pipeline through schemes like Pathways to Planning and a new Planning Careers Hub, and retain experienced planners with £2.8 million for PAS training. An additional £48 million investment was announced, with £28.8 million dedicated to funding 350 more planners, bringing the total to around 1,325 by the end of this Parliament.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. local authorities through the Planning Capacity and Capability (C&C) Programme. This programme provides targeted support to build a resilient, skilled, and diverse workforce able to meet housing and growth ambitions. It funds recruitment and retention, supports training and upskilling, and prepares local planning authorities for planning reform. The C&C Programme focuses on three key priorities: • Expanding the pipeline of new planners through the Pathways to Planning graduate scheme and Public Practice to attract mid-career professionals. Additional funding will launch a Planning Careers Hub to open new routes into the profession and improve retention. • Retaining and developing experienced planners, including around £2.8 million in 2025-26 for the Planning Advisory Service to deliver specialist training, leadership development, and tailored guidance. • Supporting planning reform, ensuring the workforce has the skills and capacity to deliver proactive, efficient planning services and contribute to the delivery of 1.5 million homes. At the 2025 Autumn Budget, the government announced £48 million of additional investment to strengthen planning capacity across the public sector. Of this, £28.8 million is dedicated to the C&C Programme, enabling scale-up over the next three years. This will fund 350 additional planners, on top of the original commitment to recruit 300, bringing the total to around 1,325 planners by the end of this Parliament. Wider cross-government initiatives will take the total number of planning recruits supported by the Budget to around 1,400. Engagement with sector partners continues to inform programme design and future interventions.