Scotland has the fewest planners per head of population of any UK nation, sparking fresh concerns about the effect this is having on investment.
The most recent annual data on planning applications shows that more than one in three local development applications waited longer than the recommended two months for a decision.
More than 40% of major development applications with a processing agreement breached the agreed timescale and Scottish Labour is warning that delays in the planning system are driving investment away and blocking development.
The party says planning reform is a key pillar in its plans to boost economic growth and tackle the housing emergency. This dovetails with the UK government’s hopes that planning reform will boost GDP by 0.2%, or around £6.8 billion, by 2029/30.
Scottish Labour Economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson said “Our clogged-up planning system is driving away investment and jobs, but it should be a vehicle for growth and jobs.
“The UK Labour government’s ambitious reforms will add billions of pounds to the UK’s economy and create countless jobs, and we need that same level of ambition in Scotland.
“A Scottish Labour government will speed up Scotland’s planning and ensure it has the staff it needs to cope, so we can boost growth, create jobs and build the houses our country so desperately needs.”
The Scottish Government introduced the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 in June of that year claiming that it would improve Scotland’s planning system “to strengthen the contribution planning can make to inclusive growth,” but change has been slow.
The Scottish government is hoping to help tackle housing issues with the introduction of a Housing Planning Hub.
Consultation has been under way between the UK and Scottish governments on further reform, particularly to speed up energy developments.
Currently, it can take up to four years to approve large electricity infrastructure projects in Scotland, such as power lines and onshore wind farms, under UK legislation that has been in place since 1989.
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