HOMES for Scotland (HFS) has described new planning application statistics as ‘shocking’, after figures revealed a 46% drop in the volume of applications for major housing developments for 2022/23 compared to 2019/20.
Despite the drop in the volume of applications, average decision times remain above pre-Covid levels at 39.3 weeks – almost two-and-a-half times the 16-week statutory timeframe for such applications.
The number of local housing development applications has also fallen by 12% whilst processing times have risen nearly 40% compared to 2019/20 and now stand at 17.2 weeks. HFS said this particularly impacts SME housebuilders and rural housing.
HFS director of planning Liz Hamilton said, “In the context of Scotland’s housing crisis and the shortfall of 114,000 new homes that has accumulated since 2008, these shocking figures illustrate how much worse the situation is becoming. Scotland simply cannot afford, either socially or economically, to let this continue but issues with the new National Planning Framework 4 point to such an outcome.
“The Scottish Government must get Scotland’s planning system sorted if we are to ensure this and future generations are able to access safe and sustainable homes that meet their needs and they can afford. This requires significant investment in and resourcing of planning services.
“We also need a system that balances the housing crisis equally with those of climate and nature. We want to continue to work with Ministers and officials to achieve this, particularly in relation to filling any data gaps that exist so that policy decision-making is pragmatic and evidence-based.”
