Planning Applications Statistics 2023/24: Quarterly (April 2023 to September 2023)

Local Developments

Please note that these statistics are estimates for quarters 1 and 2 of 2023/24. See note in Data and Methodology section.

All Local Developments

There were over 11,700 decisions on local developments in the first two quarters of 2023/24. This was 11 per cent lower than the same period in the previous year. The long-term trend is downward. The average decision time remains higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic at 11.1 weeks in Q1 and 11.3 weeks in Q2.

In Q1 there were 706 local development applications with processing agreements, almost three-quarters 72% met agreed timescales that had been set between developers and local authorities. In Q2 there were 783 with 70% meeting the agreed timescales.

Local Housing Developments

There were over 1,400 local housing developments not subject to processing agreements decided during the first two quarters of 2023/24. This was 18 per cent lower than the same period in the previous year. Average decision times continued to be higher than before the pandemic (17.6 weeks in Q1 and 17.0 weeks in Q2). Around 40 per cent of decisions were made in less than two months. Where processing agreements were in place, almost two-thirds met agreed timescales.