Number of planning decisions appealed to Scottish Ministers: EIR release

Information requested

"FOI on planning decisions overturned

I would like to ask the following:

• In each year since 2023-24, including the current year to date, how many planning decisions were appealed to Scottish Ministers? Please provide as much detail as possible.
• In relation to Q1, how many of those appeals resulted in the original planning decision being overturned. Please provide as much detail as possible.

Response

As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

Response to your request

​​​​​​​I enclose a copy of a spreadsheet containing details relating to all planning appeals for years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025 to (17 October 2025), the sheet contains a summary page and 3 additional tabs per year requested. Within the year tabs you can see the outcome and status of the appeals.

​​​​​​​Most of the information you have requested is available from Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) website - Scottish Government - DPEA - Case List by searching under each case reference number. Details of the cases and associated reference numbers can be found on the attached excel spreadsheet and full case information including documentation can be viewed there. Under regulation 6(1)(b) of the EIRs, we do not have to give you information which is already publicly available and easily accessible to you in another form or format. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.​​​​​​​

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

EIR 202500489536 - Information Released - Annex

File type

Excel document

File size

113.6 kB