Planning performance statistics: 2018-2019 midyear

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.

Figures for all applications, which include legacy cases validated before 3^rd 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 3^rd August 2009.

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

3.1. All Major Developments

There were 112 major development applications (excluding legacy cases) subject to average time calculations in the first six months of 2018/19, the same as in the equivalent period in 2017/18. The average decision time for these 112 major development applications was 34.6 weeks, quicker by one and a half weeks than the 36.2 weeks for the equivalent period in 2017/18.

There were 54 applications (excluding legacy cases) for major developments decided in quarter one of 2018/19, one less than in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time for these 54 major development applications was 31.7 weeks, more than eight weeks quicker than the 39.8 weeks for the same quarter in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 2).

There were 58 applications (excluding legacy cases) for major developments decided in quarter two of 2018/19, one more than in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time for these 58 major development applications was 37.3 weeks, four and a half weeks slower than the 32.8 weeks for the same quarter in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 2).

Chart 21: All Major Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 22: All Major Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

2015/16 Q4 All Applications figure was revised in January 2018
2016/17 Q1 and Q4 figures were revised in July 2018
2017/18 Q2 figure was revised in July 2018

The average decision time figures of 31.7 and 37.3 weeks for quarters one and two have been influenced by a number of lengthier decision times, including 18 decision times of longer than a year – five in quarter one and 13 in quarter two. Three of the 13 in quarter two had decision times of longer than two years.

Two thirds (36 of 54) of major development applications decided in quarter one were decided in a time that was quicker than the quarter one average. In quarter two just under two thirds (38 of 58) were decided in a time quicker than the average for that quarter.

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

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2018/19 there were 26 major development applications with processing agreements, 61.5% (16) of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were 35, 77.1% (27) meeting the agreed timescales (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 1).

In quarter one major applications with processing agreements accounted for 32.5% of all major development decisions, in quarter two they accounted for 37.6%.

There were also two Major Development pre 3rd August 2009 legacy cases concluded. Further details about legacy cases can be seen in Section 10.

Glasgow City and Highland made most decisions on major developments in the first six months of 2018/19; 15 in total. In quarter one Glasgow City concluded eight major development applications, one had a processing agreement and the remaining seven had an average decision time of 22.7 weeks. Seven major development applications were concluded by Glasgow City in quarter two, two with a processing agreement, the remaining five had an average decision time of 31.8 weeks. Highland concluded seven major development applications in quarter one, four had processing agreements and the remaining three had an average decision time of 17.2 weeks. Eight major development applications were concluded by Highland in quarter two, seven had a processing agreement and the remaining application had a decision time of 26.6 weeks (Midyear, 2018/19 – Tables 1 & 2).

3.2. Major Housing Developments

Major Housing developments are those with 50 or more dwellings or with a site area that is or exceeds 2 hectares where the predominant use is for housing.

There were 52 major housing developments decided during the first six months of 2018/19, the same as in the equivalent period in the previous year. The average decision time for these 52 major housing applications was 37.0 weeks, quicker by almost four weeks than the 40.9 weeks for the equivalent period in the previous year.

There were 24 applications for major housing developments decided in quarter one of 2018/19, six (20.0%) fewer than in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time was 34.6 weeks, more than nine weeks quicker than the 44.2 weeks for quarter one in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 7).

There were 28 applications for major housing developments decided in quarter two of 2018/19, six (27.3%) more than in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time was 39.0 weeks, over two weeks slower than the 36.4 weeks for quarter two in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 7).

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile. In quarter one two Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year, one taking more than four years. The average decision time of 34.6 weeks was significantly influenced by the application with a decision time of 4.5 years; the average decision time for the remaining 23 applications was 26.0 weeks. In quarter two, six Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year while 64.3% (18 of 28) 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.

Chart 23: Major Housing Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 24: Major Housing Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

2015/16 Q4 All Applications figure was revised in January 2018
2016/17 Q1 and Q4 figures were revised in July 2018

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2018/19 there were 14 major housing applications with processing agreements, 71.4% (10) of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were 18, 88.9% (16) meeting the agreed timescales.

There were also two Major Housing Development pre 3rd August 2009 legacy cases concluded. Further details about legacy cases can be seen in Section 10.

3.3. Major Business and Industry

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 major the gross floor space as a result of the development must exceed 10,000 square metres or the site area must exceed 2 hectares.

There were eleven major business and industry developments decided during the first six months of 2018/19, seven more than the equivalent period in the previous year. The average decision time for these eleven major business and industry applications was 21.3 weeks, slower by just over a week than the 19.9 weeks for the equivalent period in the previous year.

There were eight applications for major business and industry developments decided in quarter one of 2018/19, twice the number decided in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time was 24.4 weeks, more than four weeks slower than the 19.9 weeks for quarter one in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 9).

There were three applications for major business and industry developments decided in quarter two of 2018/19. The average decision time for the three applications was 13.2 weeks. No major business and industry applications had been decided in the same quarter in the previous year. (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 9).

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In both quarter one and quarter two of 2018/19 there was one major business and industry application with a processing agreement which met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities.

Chart 25: Major Business and Industry Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 26: Major Business and Industry Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

3.4. Major 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.

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 36 major other developments decided during the first six months of 2018/19, seven fewer than in the equivalent period in the previous year. The average decision time for these 36 applications was 37.7 weeks, more than four weeks slower than the 33.3 weeks for the equivalent period in the previous year.

There were 17 applications for major other developments decided in quarter one of 2018/19, the same as in the equivalent quarter in the previous year. The average decision time was 34.5 weeks, almost eight weeks quicker than the 42.3 weeks for quarter one in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 11).

There were 19 applications for major other developments decided in quarter two of 2018/19, seven (26.9%) fewer than in the same quarter in the previous year. The average decision time was 40.5 weeks, 13 weeks slower than the 27.4 weeks for quarter two in the previous year (Midyear, 2018/19 – Table 11).

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile. In quarter one there were two major other development applications with decision times of more than two years. The average decision time of 34.5 weeks was significantly influenced by these two applications with long decision times. The average decision time for the remaining 15 applications was 21.6 weeks. In quarter two five major other development applications had decision times of more than one year, three of these taking more than two years. For further detail on the distribution of decision times for major housing see Annex A.

Chart 27: Major Other Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 28: Major Other Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

The 2015/16 Q4 All Applications figure was revised in July 2018

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2018/19 there were seven major other developments applications with processing agreements, 42.9% (3) of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were ten, 60.0% (6) meeting the agreed timescales.