Planning Applications Statistics 2023/2024: Annual And Quarterly October 2023 To March 2024 Official Statistics

12th November 2024

Official statistics publication provides data on the number, type and decision times of planning applications made to Scottish Planning Authorities during 2023/24.

Summary statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for 2019/20 to 2023/24.

Local Development Applications
The number of local development applications in 2023/24 (22,565) was the lowest for five years. The number in 2019/20 was 26,585. The percentage decided in two months fell from 74.1 per cent in 2019/20 to 63.7 per cent in 2023/24.

Major Development Applications
In 2023/24 there were 227 applications for major developments continuing the downward trend since 2019/20 when there were 307. The average decision time for applications without processing agreement was 36.1 weeks. This was lower than the three previous years, but higher than the pre-COVID Pandemic year of 2019/20 (33.5 weeks).

Approval Rates
The overall rate of approvals of applications was 92.3% in 2023/24. The approval rate has been around 94% in recent years.

Read the full report HERE