Councils told to get a grip as targets for major planning decisions missed

SCOTLAND'S local councils and national park boards are missing important targets for decisions on major planning applications, according to official figures.

Now there are calls for firmer action as councils fail to improve the flow of applications despite recent legislative changes. Data from Scotland's chief statistician showed that planning authorities only reached decisions on 37 per cent of applications for major projects within the four-month target in 2009-10, down from 38.7 per cent in the previous year.

The fall came despite a 7 per cent decline in the number of applications being processed in the system and reforms to planning laws introduced by the Scottish Government.

Major applications include housing schemes with more than 50 dwellings or industrial developments that cover more than 10,000sq m.

David Lonsdale, assistant director of CBI Scotland, said the figures were "disappointing", despite some planning authorities turning in a "credible performance". Lonsdale said: "The cycle of frustration, uncertainty and delay in Scotland's planning system has yet to be broken.

"Government and planning authorities need to get a firm grip on the situation if performance is to be enhanced and if there is to be a measurable and lasting improvement in Scotland's planning system so that it supports and facilitates economic activity."

Planning reform has been a key tenet of business group's policies in recent years, with CBI Scotland and the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland among the bodies campaigning for a simplified system.

Reforms have been introduced but officials say they will take time to bed in.

Ian Angus, convenor of the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland, which represents planning officials, said major changes had been made at in the past year, despite a decrease in resources.

He added: "While it is disappointing that the percentage of major applications decided in under four months declined over the past year, it has to be recognised that we are still in the early stages of delivering the new planning system."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "While planning authorities across Scotland provide an effective service, there clearly remains work to do in delivering the increased pace of decision-making and performance we all want to see. That's why we are continuing to work with planning authorities and our agencies to accelerate reform and build a modern, fit for purpose planning system."