The Edinburgh Concordat: contractual, collaborative positive planning?

An important element of the modernization of statutory land use planning in the United Kingdom turns on the need for appropriate cultural change by stakeholders. This would improve the operational performance of the planning system and deliver more efficient, effective, and inclusive land and property development. What does it mean in practice? Is there evidence that a transformative aspect of statutory planning practice is being realized? Are new relations being developed between public and private stakeholders that enhance the performance of the regulatory planning system? This article examines the Edinburgh Concordat, a specific practical approach in Scotland to modernize planning through a deliberate attempt to cultivate new public-private behaviors and attitudes in order to secure effective community benefits. The article explains the anticipated benefits of concordatory and examines action in the critical areas of resources, skills, and processes. Implementation rests on joint deliberative action by the local planning authority and development interests. Through a critical discussion of concordatory and associated processing (or performance) agreements, the article contributes to an understanding of "cultural change" in public-private relationships in planning and development.