Service Status - Planning

Last reviewed - 4th March 2026 

Customers are advised that statutory planning fees have been amended as of 1st April 2026. Please refer to Planning Fees Guidance for further details.

Responding to General/Casework Enquiries

Where possible email and telephone enquiries will be responded to within 5 working days. Where this is not possible enquiries will be acknowledged and an alternative timescale for response provided. 

Validation of new applications 

The Central Validation Team are currently reviewing new applications within 5 working days from receipt.

All submitted applications continue to be validated in line with the National Validation Standards published by the Heads of Planning Scotland. Customers are advised to ensure that any plans and supporting documents are prepared in compliance with these requirements in order to increase the likelihood of their application being validated at the first attempt and to avoid further delays being incurred through the requirement to submit further/amended information before the application can be formally registered.

Determination of Planning Applications

There continues to be a significant backlog of planning applications and casework arising from significant pressure upon the service from high customer demand and reduced availability of staff resource over an extended period of time. Consequently, it is currently taking longer than usual  to determine ‘local’ planning applications. Whilst officers are working hard to address this issue, customers are advised that ‘local’ applications (excluding legacy items) are currently taking 17.3 weeks to determine on average. Householder applications (excluding legacy items) are currently taking 12.4 weeks to determine on average.

Where an extension of time is required then officers will make contact to advise that determination will be delayed and advise of the revised timeline for determination of the application.

Where officers identify that there is a procedural barrier (e.g. requirement for submission of further supporting information) to reaching a positive determination of a planning application then they will seek to identify and communicate such matters at the earliest opportunity. Where it appears that there is good prospect of these issues being resolved within a reasonable timescale then officers will arrange for a formal extension to the statutory determination period.

Where circumstances allow, applications that will make a significant contribution toward the delivery of new housing or employment will be prioritised, this will also be the case where it is identified by the applicant/agent that an application is time sensitive in relation to grant funding or is urgently required for the purpose of health and/or safety.

Responding to Pre-Application Enquiries

The handling of non-statutory pre-application enquiries continues to be impacted by other work pressures, including prioritisation of planning application casework. The target period for responding to pre-application enquiries is currently 30 working days. 

It is advised that pre-application responses are consequently taking longer than usual and customers are advised 57.3% of enquiries are responded to within 6 weeks.

Planning Offices

Council offices have limited opening hours to members of the public (Service Points | Argyll and Bute Council (argyll-bute.gov.uk) As a service we are well equipped to work flexibly from home and officers are currently working on a hybrid basis.  However, this does mean that officer availability in office locations is limited, and processes which require hard copy documentation may take slightly longer to complete.

Contacting the Planning (Development Management) Service

You can help us by getting in touch through appropriate channels:

1. Viewing planning application details – please utilise Public Access. If you have problems using the online service please use the Planning Enquiries online form, or telephone 01546 605518 for assistance.
2. Submission of representations / objections / support to planning applications – please use Public Access, or submit by e-mail to the relevant area office e-mail address (see below). (Hard copy representations will still be accepted but may take longer to process).
3. General Enquiries – please use the Planning Enquiries online form, or telephone 01546 605518
4. Apply for Planning Permission – Please submit new applications using the e-Planning portal. (Hard copy applications posted to the Central Validation Team will still be accepted but may take longer to process). Correspondence relating to invalid applications should be issued by e-mail to centralvalidationteam@argyll-bute.gov.uk       
5. Pre-application Advice – general advice is available online; where input from planning officers is required then enquiries should be submit using the online form (this is a chargeable service)
6. Report an unauthorised development – please use the Planning Enforcement online form, or telephone 01546 605518
7. Submission of Casework Related Documentation – submission of documentation relating to casework (supporting information, amended plans, consultation input, details pursuant to conditions etc.) should be submitted by e-mail to the relevant area office e-mail address (see above). (Documentation submitted by post or issued direct to case officers will still be accepted but may take longer to process).

It is requested that applicants / agents submitting documents/applications do so either via the Scottish Government ePlanning Portal or electronically to the appropriate area office detailed below:

• Bute and Cowal Area Office – planning.bandc@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Helensburgh and Lomond Area Office – planning.handl@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Office – planning.maki@argyll-bute.gov.uk
• Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Office – planning.olandi@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Recent Publications 

Development Management Service Plan and Customer Charter - Development Management Service Plan and Customer Charter | Argyll and Bute Council

Enforcement Charter - Planning and Enforcement Charter August 2024