The time taken to make decisions on major housing developments has reached its slowest yet, according to latest figures.

The Official Statistics Publication (OSP) reveals the average decision time made on 20 major housing developments in the first quarter of 2015 was 64.4 weeks.

Four of the 20 applications had a timescale of over two years.

For local housing developments, there were 1,498 decisions made.

However, the overall average decision time of 13.6 weeks was the quickest average decision time over the past thirteen quarters.

Key Findings for Q1 of 2015/16

The overall average decision time for Local Developments was the quickest over the past thirteen quarters:

• For the first quarter from April to June 2015 the overall average decision time for local developments was 9.5 weeks, quicker by over four days compared to the previous quarter [10.2 weeks], and one week quicker when compared to the equivalent quarter in 2013/14 [10.5 weeks]. This is the quickest average decision time since quarter one of 2012/13.

• For quarter one in 2015/16 the percentage of local development decisions made in less than two months was 76%, four per cent higher than 72% in the previous quarter. Equivalent quarter one figures for previous years were 71.7% in 2014/15, 74.2 % in 2013/14 and 70.6% in 2012/13.

• There were 1,498 decisions made on local housing developments decided during quarter one of 2015/16. The average decision time for these local housing developments was 13.6 weeks, more than six days quicker than the previous quarter [14.5 weeks] and also the quickest average decision time since quarter 1 of 2012/13.

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The overall decision time for Major Developments was six and a half weeks quicker than the previous quarter but over 5 weeks slower than the equivalent quarter in the previous year:

• There were a total of 69 major applications decided during the first quarter of 2015/16 and the average decision time was 34.2 weeks, quicker by six and a half weeks compared to the previous quarter [40.7 weeks] but slower than the equivalent quarters in 2014/15 [28.9 weeks] and 2013/14 [32.8 weeks].

However, the average decision time for major housing developments was at its slowest since quarter 1 of 2012/13.

• There were 20 decisions made on major housing developments decided during quarter one of 2015/16. The average decision time for these major housing developments was 64.4 weeks, almost 21 weeks slower than the previous quarter [43.8 weeks] and also the slowest average decision time since quarter 1 of 2012/13. This average has been skewed by a few lengthy applications and as a consequence three quarters of major housing applications were decided in a time quicker than the average of 64.4 weeks. The median decision time for major housing applications is 37.6 weeks. In addition, there were nine major housing applications [not included in average time calculations] that were subject to processing agreements with five of these meeting agreed timescales.

Local developments include applications for household extensions and loft conversions etc, smaller housing and retail developments, as well as various other types of local developments.

Major developments include applications for developments of 50 or more homes, as well as certain waste, water, transport and energy-related developments, larger retail developments, and other types of major developments.

The overall rate of approvals for all types of application was 93.7% in the period April to June 2015, similar the previous quarter [93.5%] but down from the equivalent quarter one in 2014/15 [94.6%].

Nicola Barclay, Director of Planning at trade body Homes for Scotland, described the figures as "disappointing on a number of fronts".

She said: "Even when the four abnormally lengthy decisions referred to are stripped out, the median is still 37.6 weeks – two weeks longer than the same time period last year.  Frustratingly, there is no information on the actual decision so we cannot tell how many of these applications are being taken forward.

"My main concern, however, is around the use of processing agreements, the whole point of which is for all parties to agree upfront to a realistic and achievable timescale.  Of the nine major and seven local applications using such agreements, only half met the agreed programme.  This is extremely worrying and must improve if partnership working is to be encouraged and supported going forward.

"Whilst the statistics for smaller developments are better, it is glaringly obvious that the system needs to gear up significantly if Scotland is to provide enough homes to meet the diverse housing needs of its growing population."

(LM/CD)