The Royal Town Planning Institute's advice service for England is to treble in size in the next three years.
The increase was prompted by a report from the RTPI and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister reviewing the role of the Planning Aid service, which provides planning advice to those who cannot afford a consultant.

The report said the service was "running almost permanently to breaking point" and recommended expansion. It also suggested a pilot for a helpline, billed as planning's answer to NHS Direct.

The Planning Aid service received nearly £4m over three years in the Communities Plan, and will raise a further £1.4m.

RTPI Planning Aid manager Ian Silvera said the expansion would require 250 more volunteers from the planning community. He said: "We are delighted the government is coming on board and supporting planning aid and acknowledging the role we play in helping government to fulfil its objectives [to involve communities in planning]." He added that the Planning Aid Trust – the charitable body tasked with raising the additional £1.4m – was in talks with funders.

Pilots have begun looking at how Planning Aid could support regeneration in the Thames Gateway, and in Tyneside and Teesside. They will finish in September.

A pilot looking at the role of Planning Aid in the South-west will end in April.

Source

Housing Today