Planning performance statistics: first quarter, 2017-2018

1. Introduction

1.1 Background to data collection

Planning authority performance data is a statistical collection undertaken to establish the number of planning applications determined by Scottish planning authorities, and their performance in processing them. The Scottish Government Communities Analysis Division collects quarterly data from all 32 Local Authorities and the two Planning Authorities (Cairngorms National Park and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park) on the detail of planning decisions and timescales.

1.2 Legacy cases

On 3rd August 2009 substantial changes to the statutory development management system, relating to the handling of planning applications, came into effect across the whole of Scotland. A few legacy cases that were validated pre 3rd August 2009 can badly skew results and therefore the analysis in Sections 2 to 6 covers applications validated in the current planning system post 3rd August 2009. For applications decided prior to quarter one 2017/18, where appropriate figures are provided for both post August 2009 applications and all application including legacy cases. Analysis of the lmited number of decided legacy cases is provided separately in Section 10.

1.3 Detailed tables of results

Additional detailed excel tables of results as well as a copy of this summary are available on the Planning Statistics page of the Scottish Government’s website at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Planning.

Quarter 1 results for 2017/18 as well as previous quarter’s results are available at: Planning Authority Performance Statistics 2017/18 Quarter 1 (These tables are referred to throughout this bulletin as “Quarter 1, 2017/18”).

Annual results for 2016/17 as well as previous year’s results are available at: Planning Authority Performance Statistics 2016/17 Annual.

1.4 Categories of planning applications

For the purpose of planning applications, developments are put into one of three categories: local, major or national. The different types allow councils to treat developments in a way which is suited to their size, complexity and the issues they are likely to raise.

Local developments include applications for changes to individual houses and smaller developments for new housing as well as 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 ^[1] ) and other developments. Most applications for planning permission will be for local developments.

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. 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. 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.

The sub category “other developments”, used for both major and local 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.

National developments are mainly large public works (for example, the regeneration of the former Ravenscraig steelworks and the redevelopment of the Dundee Waterfront) and are identified in the National Planning Framework ( http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0045/00453683.pdf).

National Developments are not included in the planning performance statistics analysed in this publication.

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

1.5 Calculation of decision times

The average decision time in weeks is calculated in days from the date of validation ^[2] to the date the decision is issued. The average weeks are then calculated by dividing the number of days by seven.

For further explanation of planning performance methodology please refer to Planning Performance Technical Notes.

1.6 Stopping the Clock

In some cases it is appropriate to remove a length of time from the total decision time. We have called this process of removing a specific length of time “stopping the clock”. Stopping the clock is used where there has been a lengthy delay caused by the applicant or external consultees, outwith the planning authority’s control that has halted progress with an application. It is for individual authorities to decide what they consider ‘lengthy’ on a case by case basis. This should not be used for every application; it is about recording the data in a way which produces more accurate and relevant performance statistics that would otherwise have been skewed by extreme cases of delay outwith the planning authority’s control.

Details of clock stops can be seen in Section 9.

1.7 Revisions

The revisions policy for planning performance statistics has been developed in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority Code of practice for Official Statistics and further details are available at: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Planning/Revisions.