Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/annual-quarterly-planning-performance-statistics-2016-17/pages/4/
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 10:07:36
Document Index: 66925362

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 13', 'art 14', 'arts 15', 'arts 13', 'art 15', 'art 16', 'arts 14', 'art 17', 'art 18', 'arts 19', 'arts 17', 'art 19', 'art 20', 'arts 17']

Local developments include applications for changes to individual houses and smaller developments for new housing as well as other applications covering areas of development such as, minerals, business & industry, waste management, electricity generation, freshwater fish farming, marine finfish farming, marine shellfish farming, telecommunications, approval of matters specified in conditions ( AMSCs) and other developments. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes, but is not limited to, retail, leisure and entertainment, education, healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and drainage developments and projects. It can also include mixed use projects. ( Annual, 2016/17: Scotland table).
Chart 13: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions
Chart 14: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)
The following charts 15 and 16 include an additional four legacy cases (Other Developments (1), Housing (2) and Waste Management (1)) compared to charts 13 and 14.
Chart 15: All Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions
Chart 16: All Applications: Local Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)
The average decision time for the 26,986 (post 3rd August 2009) local applications in 2016/17 was 9.2 weeks, quicker by an average of 4 days per application compared with 2015/16 (9.7 weeks) and the quickest annual average since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. When the 4 legacy cases are included the average decision time remains at 9.2 weeks.
Charts 14 and 16 show that average decision times vary between types of development. The largest share of local developments is for householder developments (almost 50%) and these have the shortest decision time of on average 7.3 weeks. Minerals applications (0.1% of all local decisions) have the longest average decision time equal to 19.9 weeks. Legacy cases can skew average decision times. For example, when the 1 legacy case is included in the average decision time for waste management the average decision time increases from 11.6 to 15.5 weeks.
During the year 2016/17 there was a total of 944 local development decisions where the clock had been stopped at some point within the application process (3.5% of all local development decisions). On average almost 19 weeks has been removed for these applications, and this will have had an effect on overall average decision times. For the previous year, there were 1,143 local development decisions where the clock had been stopped at some point (4.0% of all local application decisions). See Annex 14.1 for further details.
Some local developments are subject to Environmental Impact Assessments ( EIAs). Results for these developments are not included here and instead are reported separately in the detailed tables ( Annual, 2016/17: Tables 23 & 28).
In addition, there were 1,194 local developments decided in 2016/17 that had processing agreements in place, with more than 83% of these meeting agreed timescales. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.
The following Tables 1 and 2 show that the overall decision time for local developments in 2016/17 were the quickest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. In 2016/17 the average decision times for householder (7.3 weeks), other developments (10.0 weeks), housing (12.7 weeks), business & industry (9.3 weeks) and fish farming (8.5 weeks) developments were all the quickest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. Between 2015/16 and 2016/17 minerals developments had the biggest improvement in average decision time from 35.0 weeks to 19.9 weeks. For telecommunications, AMSCs, electricity generation and waste management there were increases in average decision times compared to 2015/16. The increase in the average decision time for electricity generation developments and AMSCs can partly be explained by a total of twenty applications with decision times longer than one year. The lengthiest AMSC decision was an approval required by conditions for the erection of 42 dwellings, formation of vehicular access, car parking and roads including engineering works to re-profile and stabilise a cliff face. The lengthiest electricity generation decision was for the erection of a 50kW, 34.6 metre high (to the tip of the blades) wind turbine. Both applications were approved.
Table 1: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Local Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type
Post-3rd August
Householder 13,400 7.3 13,641 7.4 14,115 7.5 13,904 7.7 13,446 8.0
Other Developments 5,919 10.0 6,126 10.3 6,099 10.4 6,258 10.5 5,822 11.3
Housing 4,899 12.7 5,590 13.7 5,807 14.5 5,762 15.2 5,563 17.2
Business & Industry 1,738 9.3 1,941 10.4 2,257 10.7 2,370 11.1 2,531 11.8
Telecommunications 457 8.1 441 7.9 416 7.6 404 8.5 301 8.5
AMSCs 294 14.7 319 13.0 318 14.8 302 17.4 255 16.3
Electricity Generation 178 19.2 561 17.4 626 22.4 861 23.1 1,247 21.2
Fish Farming 44 8.5 84 9.4 53 13.3 63 12.5 43 10.6
Waste Management 29 11.6 22 10.8 23 17.8 55 19.4 89 16.3
Minerals 28 19.9 39 35.0 25 17.7 47 15.8 35 26.9
TOTAL 26,986 9.2 28,764 9.7 29,739 10.1 30,026 10.6 29,332 11.4
Table 2: All Applications: Local Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type
Householder 13,400 7.3 13,644 7.5 14,116 7.5 13,904 7.7 13,450 8.1
Other Developments 5,920 10.0 6,131 10.5 6,102 10.5 6,264 10.8 5,833 11.7
Housing 4,901 12.8 5,616 14.4 5,836 15.3 5,831 17.5 5,671 20.9
Business & Industry 1,738 9.3 1,944 11.2 2,259 10.9 2,385 12.9 2,548 13.0
AMSCs 294 14.7 319 13.0 319 15.1 303 18.0 255 16.3
Electricity Generation 178 19.2 561 17.4 626 22.4 863 23.5 1,251 21.7
Waste Management 30 15.5 22 10.8 23 17.8 57 26.8 95 28.7
Minerals 28 19.9 40 35.1 25 17.7 49 22.3 36 31.6
TOTAL 26,990 9.2 28,802 10.0 29,775 10.3 30,123 11.3 29,483 12.4
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. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes, but is not limited to, retail, leisure and entertainment, education, healthcare, community facilities, transport interchanges, water and drainage developments and projects. It can also include mixed use projects. 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. (Annual, 2016/17: Scotland table).
Chart 17: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions
Chart 18: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)
The following charts 19 and 20 include an additional three legacy cases (Other Developments (2) and Minerals (1)) compared to charts 17 and 18.
Chart 19: All Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Number of decisions
Chart 20: All Applications: Major Developments, 2016/17: Average decision time (weeks)
The average decision time for the 246 (post 3rd August 2009) major applications in 2016/17 was 37.0 weeks, slower by 6 weeks per application compared with 2015/16 (31.0 weeks) and the slowest annual average since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. When the 3 legacy cases are included the average decision time increases from 37.0 weeks to 37.1 weeks.
Charts 17 and 18 show that a large share (almost 44%) of major developments are for housing developments that have an average decision time of 44.9 weeks. Legacy cases can skew average decision times. For example, when one legacy case is included in the average decision time for minerals, the average increases by 9 weeks from 30.0 to 39.0 weeks.
During the year 2016/17 over 29% of all major development decisions had involved a clock stop at some point within the application process. The average time stopped was 62.0 weeks for these applications. This will have had an effect on overall average decision times. See Annex 14.1 for further details.
In addition there were a further 95 major development applications concluded in 2016/17 that were subject to separate processing agreements. Over 68% of these applications met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. Applications subject to processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.
The following tables 3 and 4 give figures for the previous four years. Table 3 shows that the overall decision time for major developments in 2016/17 was the slowest since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. In contrast Table 4 shows that, when legacy cases are included, the overall decision time for major developments in 2016/17 was the quickest since the start of the data collection in 2012/13. Due to the small number of applications for some types of major developments, average decision times may be volatile between types and years and can be skewed by a few lengthy decisions. See Annex 14.2 for further details.
Table 3 shows that in 2016/17 the average decision times for housing and business & industry applications were slower than for the previous four years. Between 2015/16 and 2016/17 the average decision time slowed for electricity generation and other developments. In contrast, the average decision times for minerals and waste management development times improved in 2016/17 compared to the previous year.
In Table 4, when legacy cases are included, the trend is reversed for major housing and in 2016/17 the average decision time is quicker than for the previous four years. Average decision times in 2016/17 for electricity generation, minerals and waste management are also quicker than the previous four years. In contrast, average decision times for business & industry and other developments are slower in 2016/17 compared to 2015/16.
In 2016/17 there were 14 major applications that took longer than 2 years for a decision. The lengthiest decision was for planning permission in principle for a development of up to 550 houses, a neighbourhood centre including retail and community uses, access junctions, new access roads, provision of a nature conservation area, associated roads and infrastructure. The application was approved.
Table 3: Post 3rd August 2009 Applications: Major Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type
Housing 108 44.9 95 40.6 113 41.3 117 41.9 76 40.1
Other Developments 94 30.4 108 25.1 101 28.7 105 25.9 66 34.3
Business & Industry 26 33.2 23 19.9 39 33.1 41 26.6 45 22.8
Electricity Generation 10 32.6 16 31.7 19 53.6 27 58.4 24 50.7
Minerals 5 30.0 16 33.6 16 52.1 13 20.6 21 46.6
Waste Management 3 18.6 9 22.4 9 18.4 7 23.7 5 22.3
Fish Farming 0 - 1 18.0 1 31.6 0 - 1 4.4
TOTAL 246 37.0 268 31.0 298 36.6 310 34.6 238 36.3
Table 4: All Applications: Major Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type
Housing 108 44.9 105 52.1 125 54.1 147 69.9 104 74.8
Other Developments 96 30.3 111 26.3 103 32.9 115 38.7 73 46.2
Business & Industry 26 33.2 23 19.9 41 41.3 45 39.8 51 56.2
Electricity Generation 10 32.6 17 53.7 21 69.1 27 58.4 28 64.4
Minerals 6 39.0 18 41.8 17 70.0 15 59.0 23 47.4
Waste Management 3 18.6 9 22.4 10 24.8 7 23.7 7 87.4
TOTAL 249 37.1 284 37.8 318 46.4 356 53.8 287 61.1