Planning performance statistics: quarterly reports - April to September 2019-2020

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 and 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.

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 categories of major developments is reported on an annual rather than quarterly basis.

Decision times for major applications may vary greatly between applications so average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile.

Some local authorities use processing agreements where the developer and the local authority agree on timescales for decisions. When an application is subject to a processing agreement it is not included in average decision time calculations.

Legacy cases validated before 3^rd August 2009 are not included in the figures but are reported separately in Section 10. Figures for all applications including legacy cases were reported up to and including 2016/17 and are available in previous publications.

3.1. All Major Developments

There were 114 major development applications not subject to processing agreements in the first six months of 2019/20, five more than in the same period in 2018/19. The average decision time was 31.7 weeks, over three weeks quicker than the 35.1 weeks for the same period in the previous year.

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2019/20 there were 27 major development applications with processing agreements, 59.3% (16) of these met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were 30, 70.0% (21) meeting the agreed timescales.

Chart 15: All Major Developments

The average decision time figures of 30.8 and 32.7 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 – eleven in quarter one and seven in quarter two. One of the eleven in quarter one and four of the seven in quarter two had decision times of longer than two years. The longest in quarter two taking 3.8 years.

Just over two thirds (41 of 60) of major development applications decided in quarter one were decided in a time that was quicker than the quarter one average. In quarter two more than 70% (39 of 54) 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 quarter one major applications with processing agreements accounted for 31.0% of all major development decisions, in quarter two they accounted for 35.7%.

Glasgow City made most decisions on major developments in the first six months of 2019/20; 18 in total. In quarter one they concluded seven major development applications, one had a processing agreement and the remaining six had an average decision time of 28.6 weeks. In quarter two they concluded 11 major applications with an average decision time of 24.4 weeks.

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 64 Major Housing developments not subject to processing agreements decided during the first six months of 2019/20, 12 more than in the same period in the previous year. The average decision time was 34.9 weeks, just over two weeks quicker than the 37.0 weeks for the same period in the previous year.

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2019/20 there were 13 major housing applications with processing agreements, 46.2% (6) of these met agreed timescales set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were 21, 66.7% (14) meeting the agreed timescales.

Chart 16: Major Housing Developments

Average figures based on a small number of applications can be volatile. In quarter one six Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year, the longest taking 2.5 years. The average decision time of 33.5 weeks was significantly influenced by the application with the longest decision time; the average decision time for the remaining 29 applications was 30.2 weeks, more than three weeks quicker. In quarter two, five Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year while just over 70% (24 of 34) 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.

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 four major business and industry developments not subject to processing agreements decided during the first six months of 2019/20, five fewer than in the same period in the previous year. The average decision time was 18.0 weeks, almost six weeks quicker than the 23.9 weeks in the first six months of 2018/19. The number of major business and industry applications is very small and so average decision times may be significantly influenced by the decision time for a single application.

No major business and industry applications subject to processing agreements were concluded in the first six months of 2019/20.

Chart 17: Major Business and Industry Developments

There were no business and industry applications not subject to processing agreements in quarter 2 of 2017/18 therefore there was no average decision time.

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 30 major other developments not subject to processing agreements decided during the first six months of 2019/20, five fewer than in the equivalent period in the previous year. The average decision time was 26.3 weeks, more than 11 weeks quicker than the 37.7 weeks for the same period in the previous year.

In addition a number of applications were concluded that were subject to processing agreements, these are not included in average time calculations. In quarter one of 2019/20 there were nine major other developments applications with processing agreements, 55.6% (5) of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In quarter two there were six, 83.3% (5) meeting the agreed timescales.

Chart 18: Major Other Developments

In quarter one two major other development applications had decision times of more than a year, one taking almost two years. The average decision time of 22.4 weeks was significantly influenced by the application with the longest decision time. The average decision time for the remaining 17 applications was 17.6 weeks, almost 5 weeks quicker. In quarter two, two major other development applications had decision times of more than two years. The average decision time of 32.3 weeks was significantly influenced by these two applications. The average decision time for the remaining 10 applications was 17.3 weeks, 15 weeks quicker. Further detail on the distribution of decision times for major housing is available in Annex A.