Planning performance statistics: annual and quarterly reports, 2012-2016

4. Average decision times - Quarterly trends for Local Developments

4.1 All Local Developments

There were 6,445 local applications (post 3rd August 2009) decided during the fourth quarter of 2015/16, with an overall average decision time of 10.3 weeks, an increase of four days compared to the previous quarter (9.7 weeks) but similar to the equivalent quarters in 2014/15 (10.2 weeks) and 2013/14 (10.5 weeks). When the additional 14 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases to 11.1 weeks ( Quarter 4, 2015/16: Tables 3 & 4).

In addition, there were 227 local developments decided during the fourth quarter of 2015/16 that had processing agreements in place, with more than 84% of these meeting agreed timescales. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.

Chart 21: All Local Development Planning Applications: Number of decisions

Chart 22: All Local Development Planning Applications: Average decision time (weeks)

4.2 Householder Developments

These include all applications for development in the curtilage of a residential property which are not change of use, for example: extensions, alterations to garages, swimming pools, walls, fences, driveways or porches.

Chart 23: Householder developments: Number of decisions

Chart 24: Householder developments: Average decision time (weeks)

There were 3,041 householder applications decided during the fourth quarter of 2015/16, with an overall average decision time of 7.7 weeks, slower by two days compared to the previous quarter (7.4 weeks) and the equivalent quarter in 2014/15 (7.4 weeks). When the additional 3 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases to 8.1 weeks ( Quarter 4, 2015/16: Table 6).

4.3 Local Housing

There were 1,217 local housing applications decided during the fourth quarter of 2015/16, with an overall average decision time of 14.7 weeks, slower by over one week compared to the previous quarter (13.6 weeks), but similar to the equivalent quarters in 2014/15 (14.5 weeks) and 2013/14 (15.0 weeks). When the additional 6 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases by 1.5 weeks to 16.2 weeks ( Quarter 4, 2015/16: Table 8).

Chart 25: Local Housing developments: Number of decisions

Chart 26: Local Housing developments: Average decision time (weeks)

4.4 Local Business and Industry

There were 442 local business and industry applications decided during the fourth quarter of 2015/16, with an overall average decision time of 10.7 weeks, slower than the previous quarter (9.8 weeks) but similar to the equivalent quarter in 2014/15 (10.5 weeks). When the additional 2 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases by almost 3 weeks to 13.6 weeks ( Quarter 4, 2015/16: Table 10).

Chart 27: Local Business and Industry developments: Number of decisions

Chart 28: Local Business and Industry developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Information on decisions for other specific categories of local developments is available within the detailed excel tables at: Planning Authority Performance Statistics 2015/16 Quarter 4