The way we make decisions on planning applications has changed. From Monday 2 February all decisions are following a revised Scheme of Delegation.
This follows approval from Scottish Ministers on 27 January 2026.
The revised Scheme of Delegation gives officers decision-making powers on behalf of Councillors.
What does this mean?
New applications validated on or after Monday 2 February will be determined using the revised scheme.
The revised scheme continues to ensure that decisions on applications that raise no significant planning issues are made efficiently within the context of the relevant legislative context and the Development Plan.
It also ensures that Committee scrutiny is appropriately focused on the applications of widest public interest and greatest significance to the city.
Edinburgh is the busiest Planning Authority in Scotland and processes a high volume of applications. It is in the public interest for Edinburgh to have effective delegation arrangements in place to help manage the high volume of applications.
The revised scheme of delegation is an important component in ensuring efficient and effective decision-making.
Full details of the scheme of delegation can be found on our website.
Planning Edinburgh 