The Scottish government has published the latest report of planning decision times. Local Development decisions were quicker in 2016/17, with the 26,986 applications having an average decision time of 9.2 weeks, four days quicker than the previous year. It was the quickest annual figure since the start of this data collection in 2012/13. Local housing applications were decided in an average of 12.7 weeks, one week quicker than the previous year (13.7 weeks).
However, major development decisions were slower in 2016/17. The average decision time for the 247 schemes in 2016/17 was 37.0 weeks, six weeks slower than the average of 31.0 weeks in the previous year and the slowest annual figure since the start of this data collection in 2012/13.
Major housing applications were decided in an average of 44.9 weeks, more than four weeks slower than the previous year (40.6 weeks).
Major developments include applications for developments of 50 or more homes, as well as certain waste, water, transport and energy-related developments, larger retail developments, and other types of Major Developments.
For the year 2016/17 the overall rate of approvals for all types of application was 94.2% and the delegation rate was 95.3%. These are the highest rates over the past seven years.
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