Concerns raised over planning slowdown

Planning applications for major developments are being processed at their slowest rate since records began, it emerged yesterday.

Opposition politicians expressed concern that the average decision time was 37 weeks in 2016/17, six weeks slower than the previous year and the slowest since data began to be collected five years ago.

Scottish Government statistics also showed that there was a decrease of six per cent when it came to the number of local development decisions – by 1,778 to 26,986.

Scottish Conservative local government spokesman Alexander Stewart said: “These statistics are clear evidence of the SNP’S controlling nature and determination to stifle action at local level.”

Labour deputy leader Alex Rowley said: “It is deeply concerning that these figures are the lowest since records began.

“People across Scotland are crying out for affordable housing and this slowdown should be a wake-up call for the SNP.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Decision times on local authority planning applications are improving, with almost 27,000 applications being decided within 9.2 weeks.”