Planning performance statistics: annual report 2018-2019

5. Applications by Development Type

5.1. Local Developments 

The average decision time for 25,244 (post 3rd August 2009) local applications not subject to processing agreements in 2018/19 was 9.0 weeks. The number of decisions and average decision times vary between types of development (Tables 1 and 2). 

In addition, there were 2,129 local developments decided in 2018/19 that had processing agreements in place. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.

The largest share of local developments is for householder developments (almost 50%) and these have the shortest average decision time (7.2 weeks). Mineral applications (0.1% of all local decisions) have the longest average decision time (17.4 weeks).

Chart 37: Local Developments: Number of decisions

Chart 38: Local Developments: Average decision time (weeks)

Table 1: Post 3 August 2009 Applications: Local Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type¹

Post-3rd August Local Developments	2018/19		2017/18		2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Householder	12,482	7.2	12,861	7.3	13,400	7.3	13,641	7.4	14,115	7.5	13,904	7.7	13,446	8.0
Other Developments	5,859	9.6	5,981	9.9	5,919	10.0	6,126	10.3	6,099	10.4	6,258	10.5	5,822	11.3
Housing	4,648	12.3	4,768	12.2	4,899	12.7	5,590	13.7	5,807	14.5	5,762	15.2	5,563	17.2
Business & Industry	1,477	9.1	1,609	9.5	1,738	9.3	1,941	10.4	2,257	10.7	2,370	11.1	2,531	11.8
Telecommunications	230	8.8	504	8.7	457	8.1	441	7.9	416	7.6	404	8.5	301	8.5
AMSCs	289	13.8	284	13.9	294	14.5	319	13.0	318	14.8	302	17.4	255	16.3
Electricity Generation	180	14.5	123	13.3	178	19.2	561	17.4	626	22.4	861	23.1	1,247	21.2
Fish Farming	33	15.2	56	9.3	44	8.5	84	9.4	53	13.3	63	12.5	43	10.6
Minerals	26	17.4	17	27.1	28	19.9	39	35.0	25	17.7	47	15.8	35	26.9
Waste Management	20	9.4	17	16.6	29	11.6	22	10.8	23	17.8	55	19.4	89	16.3
Total	25,244	9.0	26,220	9.0	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^1,2

All Applications Local Developments	2018/19		2017/18		2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
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
Telecommunications					457	8.1	441	7.9	416	7.6	404	8.5	301	8.5
AMSCs					294	14.5	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
Fish Farming					44	8.5	84	9.4	53	13.3	63	12.5	43	10.6
Minerals					28	19.9	40	35.1	25	17.7	49	22.3	36	31.6
Waste Management					30	15.5	22	10.8	23	17.8	57	26.8	95	28.7
Total					26,990	9.2	28,802	10.0	29,775	10.3	30,123	11.3	29,483	12.4

1. Figures do not include applications subject to processing agreements

2. The analysis in Sections 2 to 5 covers applications validated in the current planning system, post 3^rd August 2009. For applications decided prior to quarter one 2017/18, where appropriate, figures are provided for both post 3^rd August 2009 applications and all applications including legacy cases. From quarter one 2017/18, because of the limited number of legacy cases still being processed, figures are only shown for applications validated post 3^rd August 2009.  Analysis of the limited number of decided legacy cases is provided separately in Section 11. 

5.2. Major Developments

The average decision time for 207 (post 3rd August 2009) major applications not subject to processing agreements in 2018/19 was 32.5 weeks. The number of decisions and average decision times vary between types of development (Tables 3 and 4). 

In addition, there were 118 major developments decided in 2018/19 that had processing agreements in place. Developments with processing agreements are not included in average time calculations.

Almost half (49%) of major developments are for housing developments, these have an average decision time of 35.1 weeks.

The shortest average decision time of 23.7 weeks is for Business and Industry developments, the longest average decision time is for Mineral applications (41.9 weeks). 

Chart 39: Major Developments by Development Type: Number of decisions

Chart 40: Major Developments by Development Type: Average decision time (weeks)

Table 3: Post 3 August 2009 Applications: Major Developments: Annual average decision times by Development Type¹

Post-3rd August Major Developments	2018/19		2017/18		2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Housing	98	35.1	116	38.2	108	43.4	95	40.6	113	41.3	117	41.9	76	40.1
Other Developments	64	31.1	83	30.6	94	30.4	108	25.1	101	28.7	105	25.9	66	34.3
Business & Industry	22	23.7	17	25.5	26	33.2	23	19.9	39	33.1	41	26.6	45	22.8
Electricity Generation	9	25.6	9	36.5	10	32.6	16	31.7	19	53.6	27	58.4	24	50.7
Minerals	10	41.9	8	23.9	5	30.0	16	33.6	16	52.1	13	20.6	21	46.6
Waste Management	3	27.4	5	14.0	3	18.6	9	22.4	9	18.4	7	23.7	5	22.3
Fish Farming	1	36.9	0	-	0	-	1	18.0	1	31.6	0	-	1	4.4
Total	207	32.5	238	33.6	246	36.4	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^1,2 

All Applications Major Developments	2018/19		2017/18		2016/17		2015/16		2014/15		2013/14		2012/13
	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)	Number of decisions	Average decision time (weeks)
Housing					108	43.4	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
Fish Farming					0	-	1	18.0	1	31.6	0	-	1	4.4
Total					249	36.4	284	37.8	318	46.4	356	53.8	287	61.1

1. Figures do not include applications subject to processing agreements.

2. The analysis in Sections 2 to 5 covers applications validated in the current planning system, post 3^rd August 2009. For applications decided prior to quarter one 2017/18, where appropriate, figures are provided for both post 3^rd August 2009 applications and all applications including legacy cases. From quarter one 2017/18, because of the limited number of legacy cases still being processed, figures are only shown for applications validated post 3^rd August 2009.  Analysis of the limited number of decided legacy cases is provided separately in Section 11.