Planning performance statistics: first quarter, 2016-2017

Planning Performance Statistics, 2016/17, Q1

This report presents the latest summary statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for April to June 2016 (Quarter 1), as well as historic data going back to quarter one of 2012/13. It is based on data collected by the Scottish Government from Local and Planning Authorities as part of the Planning Performance Framework (introduced in 2012).

Applications for Local Developments (excludes legacy cases)

There were 7,329 applications for local developments decided in quarter one of 2016/17, 884 (14%) more than the 6,445 decisions in the previous quarter, but 423 (5%) fewer applications than the 7,752 decisions in the equivalent quarter of 2015/16. The average decision time for these 7,329 local developments was 8.9 weeks, quicker than the previous quarter (10.3 weeks), and the quickest average decision time since the start of this data collection in quarter one of 2012/13.

Chart 1: Applications for Local Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 2: Applications for Local Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

In addition, there were 215 local development applications concluded in quarter one of 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements and are not included in average time calculations. Almost 80% of these applications met the agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities.

Local developments include applications for household extensions and loft conversions etc., smaller housing and retail developments, as well as various other types of local developments.

These figures exclude pre 3rd August 2009 legacy cases. Information on applications that include legacy cases is included in the following chapters.

Applications for Major Developments (excludes legacy cases)

For applications subject to average time calculations there were 61 major developments decided in quarter one of 2016/17, 4 (6%) less than the 65 decisions in the previous quarter, and 8 (12%) less than the 69 decisions in the equivalent quarter of 2015/16. The average decision time for these 61 major developments was 39.3 weeks, thirteen weeks slower than the previous quarter (26.3 weeks) and more than five weeks slower when compared to quarter one in 2015/16 (34.2 weeks).

Chart 3: Applications for Major Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 4: Applications for Major Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

It should be noted that the average time figure of 39.3 weeks includes thirteen lengthy applications that each had a decision time of over one year. Almost 69% of the 61 major development applications were decided in a time that was quicker than the average. Further information on the distribution of decision times for major development applications is given in Annex A.

In addition there were a further 30 major development applications concluded in quarter one of 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements. Half of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. Applications subject to processing agreements are not included in average time calculations. For the most recent quarter, applications with processing agreements accounted for a third of the decisions made for all major developments. When processing agreements are included there is an overall increase of 10% in the total number of decisions made for major applications from 83 in quarter four of 2015/16 to 91 in quarter one of 2016/17.

Major developments include applications for 50 or more homes, as well as certain waste, water, transport and energy-related developments, larger retail developments, and other types of major developments. Typically there are only a small number of decisions made for major developments each quarter and therefore average decision times are likely to be volatile.

Some of the changes over time seen in the decision time charts above may be partly due to improvements in recording of periods of inaction by the applicant. This is referred to as "stopping the clock". See Section 1.6 and Section 9 for further details.

These figures exclude pre 3rd August 2009 legacy cases. Information on applications that include legacy cases is included in the following chapters.