FSB hits out at planning rules

THE Federation of Small Businesses has warned that the Scottish planning system is stunting the growth of small companies due to the length of time it takes to process a planning application.

Figures from Audit Scotland reveal that only 43.6 per cent of non-householder planning applications were dealt with within two months in 2007-8. Edinburgh planners were slightly above average at 50.1 per cent. In England, around three quarters of applications were processed within the same time period.

FSB Scotland's policy convener Andy Willox has written to the Scottish Government's chief planner to try to solve the problem.

He said: "Despite the efforts which have been put into improving the system, the figures aren't moving in the right direction."