John Swinney, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, met Urban Studies students during his visit to the University on 22 February. The visit was one of several that Mr Swinney has been making across the country in order to engage with young planners of the future and to raise the profile of planning and planning education.
Mr Swinney was greeted by University Principal Professor Steve Chapman, Vice Principal Professor Andy Walker, Head of School Professor Gareth Pender and Deputy Head Professor Alan Prior. Mr Swinney was accompanied on the visit by Carrie Thomson who is the Senior Planner for the Scottish Government, Directorate for the Built Environment and also a former postgraduate student from the School.
The Minister spent about an hour and a half with planning staff and students and discussed a range of topics including the students' project work, spatial planning policy and sustainable development.