Planning performance statistics: annual report 2018-2019
Annual statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for 2012-2013 to 2018-2019, based on quarterly data collected by the Scottish Government from Local and Planning Authorities as part of the Planning Performance Framework (introduced in 2012).
2. Annual Trends – Local Developments (excludes legacy cases)
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) and other developments.
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, 2018/19: Table 28). In 2018/19 26 local development applications subject to EIAs were decided.
In the longer term trends figures for all applications, which include legacy cases validated before 3rd August 2009, are shown up to the end of 2016/17. From quarter one 2017/18, because of the limited number of legacy cases still being processed, figures are only shown for applications validated post 3rd August 2009.
The figures shown in longer term trends do not include applications subject to a processing agreement as these are not included in average decision time calculations.
2.1. Local Developments – Overview
The overall average decision time for local developments in 2018/19 of 9.0 weeks was the same as the previous year which was the quickest since this data collection started in 2012/13.
Chart 1: All Local Developments
During the year 2018/19 there was a total of 1,630 local development decisions where the clock had been stopped at some point within the application process (6.5% of all local development decisions). On average just over 13 weeks has been removed from the decision times for these applications, and this will have had an effect on overall average decision times. See Section 12 for further details on the use of clock stops.
In 2018/19 the average decision times for householder (7.2 weeks), local business and industry developments (9.1 weeks), and local other developments (9.6 weeks) were all the quickest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. There was a slight increase of less than a day in the average decision time for local housing applications compared to 2017/18.
2.2. Local Developments - Longer term trends
This section presents annual information on average timescales across all local developments not subject to processsing agreements, along with separate figures for key categories. Information on decisions for all specific categories of developments is available within the detailed excel tables at: Planning Authority Performance Statistics 2018/19 Annual.
2.2.1. All Local Developments
Chart 2: All Local Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 3: All Local Developments: Average decision time
Chart 4: All Local Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.2. Local Non-Householder Developments
This can include applications for smaller developments for new housing as well as applications covering areas of development such as minerals, business and 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.
Chart 5: Local Non-Householder Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 6: Local Non-Householder Developments: Average decision time
Chart 7: Local Non-Householder Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.3. 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.
Chart 8: Householder Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 9: Householder Developments: Average decision time
Chart 10: Householder Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.4. Local Housing Developments
Local Housing developments are those that have less than 50 dwellings and a site area that is less than 2 hectares.
Chart 11: Local Housing Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 12: Local Housing Developments: Average decision time
Chart 13: Local Housing Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.5. Local Business and Industry Developments
Business and Industry developments include construction of a building or structure for any of the following: use as an office, for research and development of products or processes, for any industrial process or for use for storage or as a distribution centre.
To be classed as local the gross floor space as a result of the development must not exceed 10,000 square metres and the site area less than 2 hectares.
Chart 14: Local Business and Industry Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 15: Local Business and Industry Developments: Average decision time
Chart 16: Local Business and Industry Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.6. Local Electricity Generation Developments
This includes all types of electricity generating stations. Local Electricity Generation developments are those where the capacity is less than 20 megawatts.
Chart 17: Local Electricity Generation Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 18: Local Electricity Generation Developments: Average decision time
Chart 19: Local Electricity Generation Developments: Percentage under two months
2.2.7. Local Other Developments
Other Developments are developments not falling wholly within any other single class. They include but are not limited to retail, leisure and entertainment, education, healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and drainage developments and projects. This class also covers 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 and the area of the site is less than 2 hectares.
Chart 20: Local Other Developments: Number of decisions
Chart 21: Local Other Developments: Average decision time
Chart 22: Local Other Developments: Percentage under two months
Contact
Email: planstats@gov.scot
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