“It’s all about money, the environment is secondary”: a case study of public perceptions of the Scottish planning system

There is a gap in existing literature on public perceptions of the Scottish Planning System (SPS), particularly with reference to protecting the natural environment. This project, in aiming to address this, reveals criticism of the decision-making process within the SPS. Most survey respondents felt that the SPS did not seek to protect the natural environment due to a lack of balance in decision making, with the economy seen to be prioritised over social and environmental considerations. Based on this research, recommendations are outlined to help improve future planning and environmental protection policy.