NEW planning statistics in Scotland have highlighted a a significant fall in the number of housing applications being brought forward.
Comparing the first two quarters of 2025/26 with the same period in 2024/25, the number of major housing development applications (49 + homes) decided has fallen by 38.6% from 57 to 35. While average decision timescales for these applications have reduced slightly from 40.8 weeks to 39.7 weeks, they remain almost two-and-a-half times longer than the statutory 16-week period.
The figures also show that local housing development applications (49 or less homes) have reduced from 1,683 to 1,517 – a fall of nearly 10%. Average decision timescales for these applications have increased from 18.5 weeks to 18.6 weeks, remaining more than double the statutory eight-week timeframe.
Kevin Murphy, director of planning at Homes for Scotland (HFS), said, “Whilst any reduction in average decision timescales for major housing applications is welcome, the reality is that these figures remain far beyond the statutory 16-week target. More concerning is the sharp fall in the number of major housing applications coming forward, alongside a further reduction in local housing applications and no meaningful improvement in the time taken to determine them.
“At a time when Scotland is facing a deepening housing emergency, these statistics are another clear reminder that the planning system must be enabled to support the delivery of more homes of all tenures. Delays and uncertainty have real consequences: they affect investment decisions, business confidence, tie up the funds SME homebuilders have to invest and, ultimately, the ability of people across Scotland to access the homes they need.
“The fall in both local and major housing application approvals combined with falling starts and completions are a further indication of the need for the Scottish Government, local authorities and partners across the public and private sectors to work constructively and collaboratively to bring forward the solutions that will enable planning to play its full part in alleviating Scotland’s housing emergency.”
