The time taken to decide major housing developments in Scotland has increased to its slowest yet, official figures have shown.

The latest Scottish Government statistics on planning performance show major housing decisions in Q1 2015/16 took over 64 weeks on average. Four of the 20 applications had a timescale of over two years.

This is four times the statutory period of 16 weeks and, compared to the same quarter last year, represents an increase of over 80 per cent whilst the number of applications determined actually fell by 40 per cent.

Conversely, the 1,498 decisions made on local housing developments in quarter one (April to June) of 2015/16 took an overall average decision time of 13.6 weeks, which was the quickest average decision time over the past thirteen quarters.

Describing the figures as “disappointing on a number of fronts”, Nicola Barclay, director of planning at trade body Homes for Scotland, 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. This demonstrates the scale of challenge facing the independent panel tasked with undertaking the current ‘root and branch’ review of the planning system.”

Statistics on quarterly planning performance in Scotland have been released today by Scotland’s Chief Statistician.

Key Findings for Quarter 1 of 2015/16:

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

The average decision time for local housing developments was also at its quickest since quarter 1 of 2012/13.

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.

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

These figures exclude pre 3rd August 2009 cases.

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 per cent in the period April to June 2015, similar the previous quarter (93.5 per cent) but down from the equivalent quarter one in 2014/15 (94.6 per cent).