In order to improve the EIA 6 process, it is essential to ensure an adequately resourced planning system . Research from 7 RTPI Scotland has revealed significant concerns around the resourcing of planning services with: • Nearly a third of planning department staff have been cut since 2009 • Planning authorities’ budgets have diminished in real terms by 42% since 2009 • In 2020 local authorities only spent 0.38% of their total net revenue budgets on planning • Planning application fees only cover 66% of their processing costs • There are 91 new and unfunded duties in the Planning (Scotland) Act, which could cost between £12.1m and £59.1m over 10 years Research has also showed that planning has demographic and succession challenges with a limited pipeline.