The Improvement Service has launched their new interactive planning application dashboard.
For the first time, Scotland’s national planning application dataset has been transformed into an analysis-ready format. This marks a significant step forward in making planning data accessible to a wider audience, extending beyond professional data analysts to include policymakers, researchers, and the general public.
The tool enables users to explore trends in planning applications submitted across Scotland from 2009 to March 2025. By standardising the underlying data, the Improvement Service has created a resource that allows for meaningful comparisons between different planning authorities.
To achieve this, the Improvement Service undertook the challenge of consolidating over 900 application and development types into a consistent set of categories applicable to all planning authorities. This standardisation simplifies analysis of the approximately 650,000 planning applications submitted in Scotland, enabling users to identify trends with ease.
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. This type of trend monitoring may be of interest to researchers and to the development industry, or to elected members interested in changing development trends within their authority.
The new interactive dashboard exemplifies the Improvement Service’s commitment to fostering transparency and innovation in Scotland’s planning system. Whether you’re a policymaker, an industry professional, or simply curious about planning trends, this tool provides an accessible and powerful way to explore Scotland’s planning data.
The Improvement Service remains committed in its mission to improve and enhance data for use across the public and private sectors in Scotland, championing Digital Planning.