Scotland’s Improvement Service for local government has launched an interactive planning application dashboard.
It said this is the first time the country’s national planning application dataset has been transformed into an analysis-ready format, and is expected to make planning data accessible to a wider audience, including the general public.
The dashboard enables users to explore trends in the approximately 650,00 planning applications submitted across Scotland from 2009 to March 2025.
It makes it possible to filter the data by the type of decision, local authority and type of development.
Consolidation and consistency
The underlying data has been standardised, with over 900 application and development types having been consolidated into a consistent set of categories applicable to all planning authorities.
The Improvement Service said the dashboard reveals a notable spike in applications for householder developments—such as extensions and minor home improvements—in 2021, followed by a steady year-on-year decline through to 2025. In contrast, applications for listed building and conservation area consents have remained relatively stable over time.
It cited this as the type of trend monitoring that could of interest to researchers and the development industry, or to elected members interested in changing development trends within their authority.
