Dundee planning decisions have been overturned by government officials more than any other local authority area in mainland Scotland.
Analysis also reveals city decisions are twice as likely to be reversed than in neighbouring Angus.
A study of all planning appeal decisions made by officials, known as “reporters”, over the past decade suggests a postcode lottery for local developers.
And it put local decision-making under the spotlight again.
Last year, council bosses faced criticism after being forced to pay £12,000 to Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons after holding up the opening of its new city drive-thru.
The expenses ruling came after a Scottish Government reporter concluded the council’s planning committee lacked “reasonable grounds” when it rejected the development at New Craigie Retail Park.
Review of development plan
Council chief John Alexander confirmed a review of the city’s development plan aims to better align with wider considerations.
The new analysis shows 67.6% of appealed rulings were reversed in Dundee against a 46.74% average for the whole of Scotland and 31.2% in Angus.
Fife had 47.9% of appeals overturned, while in Perth and Kinross, the figure was 42.9%.
Council chiefs face questions
Mr Alexander said: “On occasion, we’ve seen a conflict between the development plan and issues that have really come to the fore, from a planning perspective, in the last five years, such as the climate agenda.
“Reviewing the development plan so that it is clear and offers an up-to-date reflection should prevent more of these conflicts and planning appeals arising in the future.”
Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives showed that across Scotland there have been 865 appeals dismissed and 759 allowed since 2013.
‘Overturning like there’s no tomorrow’
Dundee-based Tory MSP Maurice Golden said government decision makers had been “overturning Dundee City Council planning decisions like there’s no tomorrow”.
He added: “People will be astonished to see that planning matters where local people, businesses, experts and elected representatives have all said no are still being overhauled on this scale.”
But Mr Golden was accused of failing to understand how the process works.
Mr Alexander said the North East regional MSP based his opinions “purely upon stats, rather than experience”.
A Scottish Government spokesman said planning appeals are decided by an independent reporter who is required to take into account local views and make a decision on the merits of the case.