Planning performance statistics 2019/2020: annual

10. Applications by Planning Authority

10.1. Local Developments

Chart 27 shows the mix of planning applications by development type across all planning authorities (excluding legacy cases and applications with processing agreements). The number in brackets gives the total number of local development decisions by planning authority.

Across Scotland half (50.5%) of decisions made on local developments without processing agreements were for householder applications. For 18 planning authorities at least half of decisions made on local developments without processing agreements were for householder applications. In the Cairngorms National Park there were no decisions for householder applications.

The case mix may influence overall average decision times within a particular authority. For example, given that householder applications are on average decided more quickly than other types, it might be expected that overall average decision times will be lower for those planning authorities that have a higher proportion of householder applications in their case mix.

Charts 28 and 29 show average decision times for local developments without processing agreements and the percentages of decisions made in less than two months ordered by the number of decisions in each planning authority.

Information on decision times for previous years is available in detailed excel tables from the Planning Authority Performance Statistics Section on the Planning Publications page of the Scottish Government's website.

The number in brackets gives the total number of local development decisions not subject to processing agreements by planning authority.

The average decision time for the Cairngorms National Park (16.0 weeks for nine applications) has not been shown in Chart 28. It is expected that Cairngorms has a longer average decision time as they do not receive planning applications directly but are notified of applications which have been made to those planning authorities within the National Park boundaries. Cairngorms National Park may then decide to call applications in for their determination. Planning applications are likely to have already been in the system for a number of weeks before being transferred to Cairngorms National Park. In addition, Cairngorms National Park have no householder applications in their case mix for 2019/20.

At Scotland level the percentage of decisions made in less than two months was 74.1%. Highland made the most decisions on local developments without processing agreements (2,500) and 65.8% of these were made in less than 2 months.

10.2. Major Developments

Cairngorms National Park and Orkney Islands did not make decisions for any major developments without processing agreements in 2019/20 and are therefore not included in the charts in this section.

Chart 30 shows the case mix of major developments not subject to processing agreements for each planning authority.

The number in brackets gives the total number of major development decisions by planning authority (excluding applications with processing agreements). Where appropriate the percentage of applications for Major Housing is shown.

There were 204 decisions made for major developments without processing agreements in 2019/20. Glasgow City made the most decisions (30) for major planning applications without processing agreements.

10.2.1. Major developments – average decision times

In total there were 204 decisions made on major developments without processing agreements in 2019/20 with an overall average decision time of 33.5 weeks.

Numbers of decisions made for major developments are very small compared to those for local developments and average decision times at local authority level are likely to be volatile. Average decision times can be significantly influenced by the decision time for a single application.

Due to the small numbers of major applications, especially at local authority level, average times are more variable. Eleven local authorities have reduced their overall average decision time for major applications compared to 2019/20, while 17 have reported increases in decision times. The remaining six did not have major applications in both years.

Information on decision times for previous years is available in detailed excel tables from the Planning Authority Performance Statistics Section on the Planning Publications page of the Scottish Government's website.