Planning performance statistics: annual and quarterly reports, 2016-2017

3. Annual average decision times by Development Type

3.1 Local Developments

Local developments include applications for changes to individual houses and smaller developments for new housing as well as other applications covering areas of development such as, minerals, business & industry, waste management, electricity generation, freshwater fish farming, marine finfish farming, marine shellfish farming, telecommunications, approval of matters specified in conditions ( AMSCs) and other developments. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes, but is not limited to, retail, leisure and entertainment, education, healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and drainage developments and projects. It can also include mixed use projects. ( Annual, 2016/17: Scotland table).

Details for the classification of all development types can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/278390/0083657.pdf

Chart 13: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions

Chart 14: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)

The following charts 15 and 16 include an additional four legacy cases (Other Developments (1), Housing (2) and Waste Management (1)) compared to charts 13 and 14.

Chart 15: All Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions

Chart 16: All Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)

The average decision time for the 26,986 (post 3rd August 2009) local applications in 2016/17 was 9.2 weeks, quicker by an average of 4 days per application compared with 2015/16 (9.7 weeks) and the quickest annual average since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. When the 4 legacy cases are included the average decision time remains at 9.2 weeks.

Charts 14 and 16 show that average decision times vary between types of development. The largest share of local developments is for householder developments (almost 50%) and these have the shortest decision time of on average 7.3 weeks. Minerals applications (0.1% of all local decisions) have the longest average decision time equal to 19.9 weeks. Legacy cases can skew average decision times. For example, when the 1 legacy case is included in the average decision time for waste management the average decision time increases from 11.6 to 15.5 weeks.

During the year 2016/17 there was a total of 944 local development decisions where the clock had been stopped at some point within the application process (3.5% of all local development decisions). On average almost 19 weeks has been removed for these applications, and this will have had an effect on overall average decision times. For the previous year, there were 1,143 local development decisions where the clock had been stopped at some point (4.0% of all local application decisions). See Annex 14.1 for further details.

Some local developments are subject to Environmental Impact Assessments ( EIAs). Results for these developments are not included here and instead are reported separately in the detailed tables ( Annual, 2016/17: Tables 23 & 28).

In addition, there were 1,194 local developments decided in 2016/17 that had processing agreements in place, with more than 83% of these meeting agreed timescales. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.

The following Tables 1 and 2 show that the overall decision time for local developments in 2016/17 were the quickest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. In 2016/17 the average decision times for householder (7.3 weeks), other developments (10.0 weeks), housing (12.7 weeks), business & industry (9.3 weeks) and fish farming (8.5 weeks) developments were all the quickest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. Between 2015/16 and 2016/17 minerals developments had the biggest improvement in average decision time from 35.0 weeks to 19.9 weeks. For telecommunications, AMSCs, electricity generation and waste management there were increases in average decision times compared to 2015/16. The increase in the average decision time for electricity generation developments and AMSCs can partly be explained by a total of twenty applications with decision times longer than one year. The lengthiest AMSC decision was an approval required by conditions for the erection of 42 dwellings, formation of vehicular access, car parking and roads including engineering works to re-profile and stabilise a cliff face. The lengthiest electricity generation decision was for the erection of a 50kW, 34.6 metre high (to the tip of the blades) wind turbine. Both applications were approved.

Table 1: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type

Post-3rd August Local Developments	2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Householder	13,400	7.3	13,641	7.4	14,115	7.5	13,904	7.7	13,446	8.0
Other Developments	5,919	10.0	6,126	10.3	6,099	10.4	6,258	10.5	5,822	11.3
Housing	4,899	12.7	5,590	13.7	5,807	14.5	5,762	15.2	5,563	17.2
Business & Industry	1,738	9.3	1,941	10.4	2,257	10.7	2,370	11.1	2,531	11.8
Telecommunications	457	8.1	441	7.9	416	7.6	404	8.5	301	8.5
AMSCs	294	14.7	319	13.0	318	14.8	302	17.4	255	16.3
Electricity Generation	178	19.2	561	17.4	626	22.4	861	23.1	1,247	21.2
Fish Farming	44	8.5	84	9.4	53	13.3	63	12.5	43	10.6
Waste Management	29	11.6	22	10.8	23	17.8	55	19.4	89	16.3
Minerals	28	19.9	39	35.0	25	17.7	47	15.8	35	26.9
TOTAL	26,986	9.2	28,764	9.7	29,739	10.1	30,026	10.6	29,332	11.4

Table 2: All Applications: Local Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type

All Applications Local Developments	2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Householder	13,400	7.3	13,644	7.5	14,116	7.5	13,904	7.7	13,450	8.1
Other Developments	5,920	10.0	6,131	10.5	6,102	10.5	6,264	10.8	5,833	11.7
Housing	4,901	12.8	5,616	14.4	5,836	15.3	5,831	17.5	5,671	20.9
Business & Industry	1,738	9.3	1,944	11.2	2,259	10.9	2,385	12.9	2,548	13.0
Telecommunications	457	8.1	441	7.9	416	7.6	404	8.5	301	8.5
AMSCs	294	14.7	319	13.0	319	15.1	303	18.0	255	16.3
Electricity Generation	178	19.2	561	17.4	626	22.4	863	23.5	1,251	21.7
Fish Farming	44	8.5	84	9.4	53	13.3	63	12.5	43	10.6
Waste Management	30	15.5	22	10.8	23	17.8	57	26.8	95	28.7
Minerals	28	19.9	40	35.1	25	17.7	49	22.3	36	31.6
TOTAL	26,990	9.2	28,802	10.0	29,775	10.3	30,123	11.3	29,483	12.4

3.2 Major Developments

Major developments include applications for developments of 50 or more homes, as well as other applications covering areas of development such as minerals, housing, business & industry, waste management, electricity generation, freshwater fish farming, marine finfish farming, marine shellfish farming and other developments. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes, but is not limited to, retail, leisure and entertainment, education, healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and drainage developments and projects. It can also include mixed use projects. Classification between local and major developments depends on the particular development type. For example, housing developments are classed as major when the application is for 50 or more dwellings or for a site that exceeds two hectares, whereas electricity generation is classed as major when the capacity of the generating station is or exceeds 20 megawatts. (Annual, 2016/17: Scotland table).

Details for the classification of all development types can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/278390/0083657.pdf

Chart 17: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions

Chart 18: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)

The following charts 19 and 20 include an additional three legacy cases (Other Developments (2) and Minerals (1)) compared to charts 17 and 18.

Chart 19: All Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions

Chart 20: All Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)

The average decision time for the 246 (post 3rd August 2009) major applications in 2016/17 was 37.0 weeks, slower by 6 weeks per application compared with 2015/16 (31.0 weeks) and the slowest annual average since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. When the 3 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases from 37.0 weeks to 37.1 weeks.

Charts 17 and 18 show that a large share (almost 44%) of major developments are for housing developments that have an average decision time of 44.9 weeks. Legacy cases can skew average decision times. For example, when one legacy case is included in the average decision time for minerals, the average increases by 9 weeks from 30.0 to 39.0 weeks.

During the year 2016/17 over 29% of all major development decisions had involved a clock stop at some point within the application process. The average time stopped was 62.0 weeks for these applications. This will have had an effect on overall average decision times. See Annex 14.1 for further details.

In addition there were a further 95 major development applications concluded in 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements. Over 68% 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.

The following tables 3 and 4 give figures for the previous four years. Table 3 shows that the overall decision time for major developments in 2016/17 was the slowest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. In contrast Table 4 shows that, when legacy cases are included, the overall decision time for major developments in 2016/17 was the quickest since the start of the data collection in 2012/13. Due to the small number of applications for some types of major developments, average decision times may be volatile between types and years and can be skewed by a few lengthy decisions. See Annex 14.2 for further details.

Table 3 shows that in 2016/17 the average decision times for housing and business & industry applications were slower than for the previous four years. Between 2015/16 and 2016/17 the average decision time slowed for electricity generation and other developments. In contrast, the average decision times for minerals and waste management development times improved in 2016/17 compared to the previous year.

In Table 4, when legacy cases are included, the trend is reversed for major housing and in 2016/17 the average decision time is quicker than for the previous four years. Average decision times in 2016/17 for electricity generation, minerals and waste management are also quicker than the previous four years. In contrast, average decision times for business & industry and other developments are slower in 2016/17 compared to 2015/16.

In 2016/17 there were 14 major applications that took longer than 2 years for a decision. The lengthiest decision was for planning permission in principle for a development of up to 550 houses, a neighbourhood centre including retail and community uses, access junctions, new access roads, provision of a nature conservation area, associated roads and infrastructure. The application was approved.

Table 3: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type

Post-3rd August Major Developments	2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Housing	108	44.9	95	40.6	113	41.3	117	41.9	76	40.1
Other Developments	94	30.4	108	25.1	101	28.7	105	25.9	66	34.3
Business & Industry	26	33.2	23	19.9	39	33.1	41	26.6	45	22.8
Electricity Generation	10	32.6	16	31.7	19	53.6	27	58.4	24	50.7
Minerals	5	30.0	16	33.6	16	52.1	13	20.6	21	46.6
Waste Management	3	18.6	9	22.4	9	18.4	7	23.7	5	22.3
Fish Farming	0	-	1	18.0	1	31.6	0	-	1	4.4
TOTAL	246	37.0	268	31.0	298	36.6	310	34.6	238	36.3

Table 4: All Applications: Major Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type

All Applications Major Developments	2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Housing	108	44.9	105	52.1	125	54.1	147	69.9	104	74.8
Other Developments	96	30.3	111	26.3	103	32.9	115	38.7	73	46.2
Business & Industry	26	33.2	23	19.9	41	41.3	45	39.8	51	56.2
Electricity Generation	10	32.6	17	53.7	21	69.1	27	58.4	28	64.4
Minerals	6	39.0	18	41.8	17	70.0	15	59.0	23	47.4
Waste Management	3	18.6	9	22.4	10	24.8	7	23.7	7	87.4
Fish Farming	0	-	1	18.0	1	31.6	0	-	1	4.4
TOTAL	249	37.1	284	37.8	318	46.4	356	53.8	287	61.1