Planning performance statistics: third quarter, 2016-2017

3. 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. 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.

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 major developments, along with separate figures for the key categories of housing, business and industry and other developments. Information on other more detailed categories of major developments is reported on an annual rather than quarterly basis.

3.1 All Major Developments

For applications subject to average time calculations there were 73 major applications decided during the third quarter of 2016/17 with an overall average decision time of 34.2 weeks, more than ten and a half weeks quicker than the previous quarter (44.8 weeks) but slower than quarter 3 in 2015/16 (32.7 weeks). Comparable figures for quarter three in earlier years were 44.5 weeks in 2014/15, 36.2 weeks in 2013/14 and 36.0 weeks in 2012/13. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 2)

Chart 23: All Major Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 24: All 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. More than 70% of the 73 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 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.

The time taken to make decisions on major applications can vary greatly between planning authorities and average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile.

In quarter three of 2016/17 Glasgow City made the most decisions on major developments (16 in total, excluding one legacy case), thirteen of these had an average decision time of 22.1 weeks and a further three major applications had processing agreements with none meeting the agreed timescales that had been set between the developer and local authority.

3.2 Major Housing Developments

Major Housing developments are those with 50 or more dwellings or have a site area that is or exceeds 2 hectares where the predominant use is for housing. For applications subject to average time calculations there were a total of 32 major housing developments decided during the third quarter of 2016/17 and the average decision time was 39.1 weeks, quicker by more than nine weeks compared to the previous quarter (48.5 weeks) but slower than the quarter three figure for 2015/16 (35.3 weeks). Figures for earlier years are 49.7 weeks in 2014/15, 46.4 weeks in 2013/14 and 34.1 weeks in 2012/13. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 7)

Chart 25: Major Housing Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 26: Major Housing Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile. In this quarter there were ten applications with a decision time of more than one year. 63% of the 32 major housing development applications were decided in a time that was quicker than the average. For further detail on the distribution of decision times for major housing see Annex A.

In addition, there were 19 major housing applications that were subject to processing agreements with 74% of these meeting agreed timescales.

3.3 Major Business and Industry

Major Business and Industry developments are those with floor space that is or exceeds 10,000 square metres or have a site area that is or exceeds 2 hectares.

There were seven major business and industry developments in quarter three of 2016/17. These had an average decision time of 43.4 weeks, slower by ten weeks compared to the five developments in the previous quarter (33.4 weeks). Quarter three figures for earlier years are 39.0 weeks in 2015/16, 44.6 weeks in 2014/15, 21.9 weeks in 2013/14 and 26.2 weeks in 2012/13. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 9)

Chart 27: Major Business and Industry Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 28: Major Business and Industry Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile. This quarter the average figure has been influenced by two very lengthy decision times (1.9 and 2.0 years). For further details on the distribution of decision times for major business & industry developments see Annex A.

In addition, there was one major business and industry application that was subject to a processing agreement and that met agreed timescales.

3.4 Major 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. 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. Major other developments are where the gross floor space of any building, structure or erection as a result of such development is or exceeds 5,000 square metres or the area of the site is or exceeds 2 hectares.

There were 28 major other developments in quarter three of 2016/17. These had an average decision time of 22.8 weeks, twenty two and a half weeks quicker than the previous quarter (45.3 weeks) and the quickest quarter three figure since the start of the data collection in 2012/13. ( Quarter 3, 2016/17 - Table 11)

71% of the 28 major other development applications were decided in a time that was quicker than the average.

For further detail on the distribution of decision times for major other developments see Annex A.

Chart 29: Major Other Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 30: Major Other Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

In addition, there were three major other developments that were subject to processing agreements with one of these meeting agreed timescales.