Chamber and committees

We do not hold the requested information centrally. Certain applications which were considered to be a significant departure were notified to Ministers as described below.

Prior to 2007 the notification categories were quite extensive and there were around 20 different triggers for notification. These covered applications such as development: on agricultural land; affecting trunk roads; affecting nature conservation; likely to result in loss of outdoor sports facilities; affecting a scheduled monument or category A listed building; involving wind generators etc as well as contrary to approved structure and local plans.

Category 8 Development contrary to approved structure and local plans

(a) Any development which the planning authority considers to be a significant departure from a structure plan approved by the Secretary of State under section7(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972.

(b) Any development which the planning authority considers to be a significant departure from the provisions of a local plan approved by the Secretary of State under section 12(4) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972.

For administrative purposes informal records were kept on the number of applications notified to Scottish Ministers under category 8. These are shown in the following table, however these are incomplete and we cannot separate applications relating to development or structure plan.

2000 – 24

2001 – 15

2002 – 20

2003 – 21

2004 – 3

2005 – 7

2006 – 22

Since 2009 only those applications in which authorities had an interest and that were significantly contrary to the development plan have been required to be notified to Scottish Ministers.

We do however hold some figures on the number of approvals made by planning authorities which were considered to be departures from the development plan within the period requested but not referred to Scottish Ministers. These are shown in the table below, later years can be found at the following link http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2008/01/31114430/1 .