Fall in number of planning applications

Thenumberofplanningapplications in Scotland has fallen over the last year, according to Scottish Government data.

Major developments fell by 3 per cent to 238 – the equivalent of a fall of eight applications. Local developments also fell by 3 per cent to 26,220, the equivalent of a drop of 766 applications.

Scottish Conservative housingspokesmangrahamsimpson MSP said: “These are concerning statistics and point to a worrying slowdown in housebuilding.

“They also confirm the evidence we’ve seen elsewhere of builders shunning Scotland to build elsewhere in the UK. It shows the need once again for this SNP government to improve on its appalling house-building record, 0 Graham Simpson said the figures were ‘concerning’

and for the need to grow the economy. The more homes that come on to the market, the easier it will be for people to acquire them.”

The data showed that decision-making times had speeded up by three weeks for major developments and by a day for local ones.