Planning performance statistics: third quarter, 2016-2017

Planning Performance Statistics, 2016/17, Q3

This report presents the latest summary statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for October to December 2016 (Quarter 3), 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 6,604 applications for local developments decided in quarter three of 2016/17, 80 (1%) fewer than the 6,684 decisions in the previous quarter, and 421 (6%) fewer applications than the 7,025 decisions in quarter three of 2015/16. The average decision time for these 6,604 local developments was 9.5 weeks, slower by three days compared to the previous quarter (9.1 weeks), but the quickest quarter three figure since the start of the data collection in 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 312 local development applications concluded in quarter three of 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements and are not included in average time calculations. 86% 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 73 major developments decided in quarter three of 2016/17, 25 (52%) more than the 48 decisions in the previous quarter, but 3 (4%) less than the 76 decisions in the equivalent quarter of 2015/16. The average decision time for these 73 major developments was 34.2 weeks, more than ten and a half weeks quicker than the previous quarter (44.8 weeks) but slower by one and a half weeks compared to the equivalent quarter three figure (32.7 weeks) in 2015/16.

Chart 3: Applications for Major Developments: Number of decisions

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

The average time figure of 34.2 weeks has been influenced by a number of lengthier decision times, including three decision times that each took longer than two years.

Further information on the distribution of decision times for major development applications is given in Annex A.

In addition there were a further 25 major development applications concluded in quarter three of 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements. 64% 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, major applications with processing agreements accounted for more than a quarter of the decisions made for all major developments. When processing agreements are included there is an overall increase of 51% in the total number of decisions made for major applications from 65 in quarter two to 98 in quarter three 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.