THE Federation of Small Businesses has raised fresh concerns about the speed of the Scottish planning system, citing figures that paint an uneven picture across the UK.
The business organisation said the planning system south of the Border appeared much more responsive in dealing with non-domestic planning applications.
Highlighting data compiled by Audit Scotland, the FSB said only 44.6 per cent of non-domestic
planning applications were dealt with within two months, despite an 80 per cent target.
Using statistics from the communities and local government department at Westminster, the FSB calculates that just over 80 per cent of minor non-domestic developments are dealt with within a two-month period in England and Wales.
Meanwhile, the Scottish figures show a year-on-year decline in the percentage of applications being processed in time. In 2003-4, 49.2 per cent of applications were dealt with within two months, dropping to 46.9 per cent in 2004-5 and the 44.6 per cent of 2005-6.
FSB Scotland policy convener Andy Willox said the figures raised "difficult questions" about the performance of Scotland's planning authorities.
He said: "Planning has already been identified as one of the key levers of economic growth, but on the face of it the Scottish planning system seems to be far less responsive than it should be.
"If we are to speed up the planning system it is absolutely vital that planning departments have enough resources to reach decisions within a reasonable period."
The full article contains 257 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
