Gravis Planning has become a Sector Associate of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

The integrated planning and strategic communications consultancy operates across the UK and Ireland and brings 25 years’ experience advising on development projects. Its housing work spans planning applications, site searches and feasibility studies, as well as community and stakeholder engagement for housing associations and developers delivering social, affordable and mixed-tenure schemes.

Founded in Belfast, the firm has expanded to Dublin and, since late 2023, Edinburgh. In Northern Ireland, Gravis Planning supports a range of housing associations, including Choice, Radius and Habinteg, helping to secure social housing delivery and effective community engagement. The company aims to provide similar support to housing associations in Scotland and to the SFHA, both in navigating the planning system and through broader policy and technical input to advance SFHA’s wider objectives.

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The announcement comes as the Scottish Government and most local authorities in Scotland have declared housing emergencies, highlighting the need for more high-quality homes from both the private and social sectors. However, current government planning policies — notably NPF4 Policy 16 — and the financial resources available to housing associations have yet to fully align with this ambition. While some planning authorities are supportive, obtaining planning consents can still be unnecessarily complex and time-consuming.