Planning performance statistics: second quarter, 2016-2017

2. Local Developments

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 ^[2] ) and other developments. The category "other developments" includes all developments and uses not covered in the list above. It includes applications for retail developments, food and drink outlets, hotels, hospitals, schools and leisure & tourism developments.

Details for the classification of all development types can be found here: http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/278390/0083657.pdf

This section presents quarterly information on average timescales across all local developments, along with separate figures for the key categories of householder, housing, business and industry and other developments. Information on other more detailed categories of developments is reported on an annual rather than quarterly basis.

2.1 All Local Developments

There were 6,684 local applications (validated post 3rd August 2009) decided during the second quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 9.1 weeks, slower by more than one day compared to the previous quarter (8.9 weeks), but quicker than the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years. ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Tables 3 & 4)

Chart 5: All Local Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 6: All Local Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 7: All Local Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

In the second quarter of 2016/17 the percentage of decisions made in less than two months was 76.3%; less than the previous quarter (78.0%) but more than quarter two in 2015/16 (75.0%).

When the one legacy case is included in quarter two the average decision time remains the same at 9.1 weeks and the percentage of decisions within two months also remains unchanged at 76.3%.

For applications subject to average time calculations, at local authority level Highland made the most decisions on local developments (591 applications), taking on average 10.8 weeks for a decision.

In addition, there were 318 local developments decided in the second quarter of 2016/17 that had processing agreements in place, with 83% of these meeting agreed timescales. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations. For the most recent quarter, local applications with processing agreements accounted for 4.5% of the decisions made for all local developments.

2.2 All Local (Non Householder) Developments

There were 3,299 local (non householder) developments decided during the second quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 10.9 weeks. This is similar to the previous quarter (10.8 weeks) and quicker than the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 8: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Number of decisions

Chart 9: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 10: All Local Developments (Non Householder): Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local (non householder) developments decided within two months is 65.3%, down from the previous quarter (65.6%) but an improvement from quarter two figures in each of the previous four years. ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Table 5)

When the one legacy case is included, the average decision time for quarter two of 2016/17 increases slightly from 10.9 weeks to 11.0 weeks and the percentage of decisions within two months remains unchanged at 65.3%.

2.3 Householder Developments

These include all applications for development in the curtilage of a residential property which are not change of use, for example: extensions, alterations to garages, swimming pools, walls, fences, driveways or porches.

There were 3,385 householder applications decided during the second quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 7.3 weeks, an increase from the previous quarter (7.1 weeks) and the equivalent quarter two in 2015/16 (7.2 weeks).

Chart 11: Householder Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 12: Householder Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 13: Householder Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of householder applications decided within two months is 87.0%, down from the previous quarter (89.4%) but the same as quarter two in 2015/16 (87.0%). ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Table 6)

There were no householder legacy cases decided in quarter two of 2016/17.

2.4 Local Housing Developments

Local Housing developments are those that have less than 50 dwellings and with a site area that is less than 2 hectares.

In quarter two of 2016/17 there were 1,245 decisions made on local housing applications. The overall average decision time was 12.6 weeks, slower by one day compared to the previous quarter (12.5 weeks) but quicker than the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 14: Local Housing Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 15: Local Housing Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 16: Local Housing Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local housing applications decided within two months was 60.6%, higher than both the previous quarter (58.4%) and quarter two of 2015/16 (57.8%). This is the highest percentage since the start of this data collection in quarter one of 2012/13. ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Table 8)

There were a further 124 local housing applications concluded that were subject to separate processing agreements, of which 102 (82.3%) met the agreed timescale. This compares with 66 (74.2% of 89 local housing applications) that met the agreed timescale for the previous quarter.

When the one legacy case is included the average decision time for quarter two increases from 12.6 weeks to 13.0 weeks, and the percentage of decisions made within two months remains the same at 60.6%.

2.5 Local Business and Industry Developments

Local Business and Industry developments are those with floor space less than 10,000 square metres and with a site area less than 2 hectares.

There were 415 local business and industry applications decided during the first quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 9.0 weeks, slower by more than two days compared to the previous quarter (8.6 weeks) but quicker than the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years.

Chart 17: Local Business and Industry Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 18: Local Business and Industry Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 19: Local Business and Industry Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

The percentage of local business and industry applications decided within two months was 71.1%, down from the previous quarter (75.1%) but an improvement from the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years. ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Table 10)

There were no local business and industry legacy cases decided in quarter two of 2016/17.

2.6 Local Other Developments

The category "other developments" includes any developments not falling wholly within any of the specific categories of development for minerals, housing, business & industry, waste management, electricity generation, fish farming and AMSCs. 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. Local other developments are those where the gross floor space of any building, structure or erection as a result of such development is less than 5,000 square metres or the area of the site is less than 2 hectares.

There were 1,416 local other developments decided during the second quarter of 2016/17, with an overall average decision time of 9.6 weeks, quicker than both the previous quarter (9.7 weeks), and the equivalent quarter two figures in each of the previous four years. This is the quickest average decision time since the start of this data collection in quarter one of 2012/13.

Chart 20: Local Other Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 21: Local Other Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Chart 22: Local Other Developments: Percentage of decisions within two months

In quarter two of 2016/17 the percentage of local other developments decided within two months was 68.2%, down from the previous quarter (68.9%), and from the equivalent quarter two percentage in 2015/16 (69.0%). Corresponding quarter two figures for previous years were 68.0% in 2014/15, 65.9% in 2013/14 and 63.8% in 2012/13. ( Quarter 2, 2016/17 - Table 12)

There were no legacy cases for local other developments decided in quarter two of 2016/17.