Argyll and Bute Council's Planning Protective Services and Licensing (PPSL) Committee Chair, Councillor Sandy Taylor, has welcomed feedback from the Scottish Government commending the authority's work.

The review praised the Council's planning department for delivering good levels of performance and supporting economic growth in the last year.

The comments follow on from positive feedback from the Scottish Government on its annual report on planning performance – Planning Performance Framework – which assesses local authorities on demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous improvement, removing barriers to development and improving performance.

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Argyll and Bute Council has achieved a high planning approval rate of 96% which is higher than the Scottish average. It has demonstrated a culture of negotiation and improvement where necessary, approval rather than refusal and has a dedicated team to deal with economically important major applications.

There has also been a significant improvement in timescales, with 78% of all applications being determined within two months. This is again above the Scottish average.

Over the past two years, more than 100 business, industry and retail applications have been determined with only one being refused.

Councillor Taylor said: "Argyll and Bute Council is very much 'open for business' and is fully committed to the Scottish Government's Planning Reform agenda objects of delivering sustainable economic growth.

"While we are very pleased with the positive feedback, our planning service is not complacent and appreciates that continuous improvement is vital.

"We believe firmly that delivering plan-led, inclusive, proportionate, consistent, timely, transparent decisions will support sustainable economic growth."

(JP/CD)