How many planning applications have been determined as being of national significance before a local planning decision was made; how many w…

Over the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2007, Scottish ministers called in and determined 250 planning applications where the planning authority had not issued a decision but was minded to grant planning consent subject to notification to the Scottish ministers. No planning applications have been called in by Scottish ministers after a decision notice was issued by a planning authority.
Where a planning application is refused by a planning authority the applicant has the right to appeal to Scottish ministers. Appeals are heard by an inquiry reporter. Most appeal decisions are delegated to reporters but in cases where the application is judged to be a matter of national concern Scottish ministers can recall the appeal case for their own determination. Ministers can accept or reject the reporter''s recommendation. The number of appeals recalled for determination by Scottish ministers over this period is 98.
A breakdown of the yearly figures for called in applications and recalled appeals is provided below:
Year

| No. of Called in Applications
| No. of Appeals Recalled

1999
| 44
| 11

2000
| 30
| 16

2001
| 41
| 12

2002
| 18
| 7

2003
| 23
| 11

2004
| 37
| 8

2005
| 21
| 15

2006
| 17
| 8

2007
| 19
| 10

Total
| 250
| 98


The following is the original answer (published on 20 December 2007); see below.

Since 1999 Scottish ministers have called in 380 planning applications and have recalled 287 planning appeals for their own determination.