Planning performance statistics 2020/2021: quarterly (April 2020 to September 2020)

Annex A – Distribution of Decision Times for Major Applications

Each column of dots shows the distribution of decision times for the applications in the category. Each dot represents one application (some dots land on top of one other). Where there were two or more applications horizontal lines show the mean and median decision times.

The overall average decision time figures for Major Applications of 35.9 and 41.2 weeks for quarters one and two have been influenced by a number of lengthier decision times, including 15 decision times of longer than a year – six in quarter one and nine in quarter two. Two of the six in quarter one and three of the nine in quarter two had decision times of two years or more, two of these three taking more than four years. 

Housing Major - In quarter one, three of the eleven Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year, the longest taking over two years. The average decision time of 42.5 weeks was significantly influenced by the application taking more than two years; the average decision time for the remaining ten applications was 35.1 weeks, more than seven weeks quicker. 

In quarter two, 6 of the 18 Major Housing applications had decision times of more than one year, two taking more than four years. The average decision time (60.5 weeks) was significantly influenced by the applications taking more than four years with the remaining 16 applications averaging 40.9 weeks, almost 20 weeks quicker.