Planning performance statistics: third quarter, 2016-2017

2. 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 ^[2] ) and other developments. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes applications for retail developments, food and drink outlets, hotels, hospitals, schools and leisure & tourism developments.

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

This section presents quarterly information on average timescales across all local developments, along with separate figures for the key categories of householder, housing, business and industry and other developments. Information on other more detailed categories of developments is reported on an annual rather than quarterly basis.

2.1 All Local Developments

There were 6,604 local applications (validated post 3rd August 2009) decided during the third quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 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.
( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Tables 3 & 4)

Chart 5: All Local Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 6: All Local Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 7: All Local Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

In the third quarter of 2016/17 the percentage of decisions made in less than two months was 73.0%, down from the previous quarter (76.3%). Corresponding quarter three figures for earlier years were 73.1% in 2015/16, 72.5% in 2014/15, 73.9% in 2013/14 and 69.5% in 2012/13.

When the one legacy case is included in quarter three the average decision time remains the same at 9.5 weeks and the percentage of decisions within two months also remains unchanged at 73.0%.

In addition, there were 312 local developments decided in the third quarter of 2016/17 that had processing agreements in place, with 86% of these meeting agreed timescales. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations. For the most recent quarter, local applications with processing agreements accounted for 5% of the decisions made for all local developments.

In quarter three of 2016/17 Highland made the most decisions on local developments (613 in total), 611 of these had an average decision time of 11.4 weeks and a further two local applications had processing agreements with both meeting the agreed timescales that had been set between the developer and local authority.

2.2 All Local (Non Householder) Developments

There were 3,407 local (non householder) developments decided during the third quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 11.3 weeks. This is slower than the previous quarter (10.9 weeks) but quicker than the equivalent quarter three figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 8: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Number of decisions

Chart 9: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 10: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local (non householder) developments decided within two months is 61.5%, down from the previous quarter (65.3%) and from the quarter three figure in 2015/16 (62.3%). ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 5)

When the one legacy case is included, the average decision time for quarter three of 2016/17 increases slightly from 11.3 weeks to 11.4 weeks and the percentage of decisions within two months remains unchanged at 61.5%.

2.3 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.

There were 3,197 householder applications decided during the third quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 7.5 weeks, an increase from the previous quarter (7.3 weeks) and the equivalent quarter three figure in 2015/16 (7.4 weeks).

Chart 11: Householder Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 12: Householder Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 13: Householder Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of householder applications decided within two months was 85.3% in quarter three of 2016/17, down from the previous quarter (87.0%) and also down from the quarter three figures in each of the previous four years. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 6)

There were no householder legacy cases decided in quarter three of 2016/17.

2.4 Local Housing Developments

Local Housing developments are those that have less than 50 dwellings and with a site area that is less than 2 hectares.

In quarter three of 2016/17 there were 1,210 decisions made on local housing applications. The overall average decision time was 12.8 weeks, slower by more than one day compared to the previous quarter (12.6 weeks) but quicker than the equivalent quarter three figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 14: Local Housing Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 15: Local Housing Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 16: Local Housing Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local housing applications decided within two months was 56.6%, lower than the previous quarter (60.6%) but higher than the quarter three figures in each of the previous four years. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 8)

There were a further 150 local housing applications concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, of which 133 (89%) met the agreed timescale. This compares with 102 (82% of 124 local housing applications) that met the agreed timescale for the previous quarter.

There were no local housing legacy cases decided in quarter three of 2016/17.

2.5 Local Business and Industry Developments

Local Business and Industry developments are those with floor space less than 10,000 square metres and with a site area less than 2 hectares.

There were 413 local business and industry applications decided during the third quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 9.7 weeks, slower by more than five days compared to the previous quarter (9.0 weeks) but quicker than the equivalent quarter three figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 17: Local Business and Industry Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 18: Local Business and Industry Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 19: Local Business and Industry Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local business and industry applications decided within two months was 66.1%, down from the previous quarter (71.1%) and from the equivalent quarter three figures in each of the previous three years. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 10)

There were no local business and industry legacy cases decided in quarter three of 2016/17.

2.6 Local Other Developments

The category "other developments" includes any developments not falling wholly within any of the specific categories of development for minerals, housing, business & industry, waste management, electricity generation, fish farming and AMSCs. 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. Local other developments are those where the gross floor space of any building, structure or erection as a result of such development is less than 5,000 square metres or the area of the site is less than 2 hectares.

There were 1,542 local other developments decided during the third quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 10.4 weeks, slower than both the previous quarter (9.6 weeks), and the equivalent quarter three figure in 2015/16 (9.9 weeks).

Chart 20: Local Other Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 21: Local Other Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 22: Local Other Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

In quarter three of 2016/17 the percentage of local other developments decided within two months was 64.6%, down from the previous quarter (68.2%), and from the equivalent quarter three percentage in 2015/16 (68.1%). Corresponding quarter three figures for previous years were 66.1% in 2014/15, 69.9% in 2013/14 and 63.9% in 2012/13. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 12)

When the one legacy case is included, the average decision time for quarter three of 2016/17 remains unchanged at 10.4 weeks and the percentage of decisions within two months decreases slightly from 64.6% to 64.5%.