Planning Performance Statistics 2020/21: 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 more than half (55.5%) of decisions made on local developments without processing agreements were for householder applications. For 22 planning authorities at least half of decisions made on local developments not subject to processing agreements were 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.

The number of applications and average decision time for the Cairngorms National Park (13.0 weeks for one Other Development Local application) have not been shown in Charts 27 to 29. 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.

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

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

At Scotland level 67.8% of decisions on local developments without processing agreements were made in less than two months. Highland made the most decisions (2,212) and 66.1% of these were made in less than 2 months.

10.2. Major Developments

Cairngorms National Park, Inverclyde and South Ayrshire did not make decisions for any major developments without processing agreements in 2020/21 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.

Glasgow City made the most decisions with 14% of the Scotland Total (24 of 171) for major planning applications without processing agreements.

10.2.1. Major developments – average decision times

In Total there were 171 decisions made on major developments without processing agreements in 2020/21 with an overall average decision time of 41.3 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.

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

Due to the small numbers of major applications, especially at local authority level, average times are more variable. Eleven authorities have reduced their overall average decision time for major applications compared to 2019/20, while 22 have reported increases in decision times. The remaining two 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.