New homes are much needed in England but the latest official figures show that planning applications are not increasing, new figures show
New homes are much needed in England but the latest official figures show that planning applications are falling, even although the Government has pledged to boost new home building.
Between April and June 2018, district level planning authorities in England received 118,100 applications for planning permission, down 4% compared with the same quarter of 2017.
The data, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, also shows that they granted 94,300 decisions, also down 4% from the same quarter in 2017, equivalent to 88% of decisions, unchanged from the same quarter of 2017.
In the second quarter of 2018 councils decided 87 of major applications within 13 weeks or the agreed time, down 1% from a year earlier.
A breakdown of the figures shows that they granted 11,900 residential applications, down 3% compared to a year earlier of which 1,500 were for major developments and 10,300 for minor development. Some 2,200 applications for commercial developments were granted, down 10% on a year earlier.
Councils received 10,100 applications for prior approval for permitted development rights, down 9% from the same quarter of 2017. Of these, 1,200 applications were for changes to residential use, of which 800 were given the go-ahead without having to go through the full planning process.
The figures also shows that in the 12 months to June 2018, district level planning authorities granted 374,200 decisions, down 3% on the year ending in June 2017.
Overall, they granted 48,800 decisions on residential developments, of which 6,400 were for major developments and 42,400 were for minor projects, down by 2% and 3% respectively on the year ending in June 2017.
District councils also granted 9,700 applications for commercial developments, down 11% on the year ending June 2017.
During April to June 2018, authorities granted 94,300 decisions, down 4% on the same quarter in 2017 and granted 88% of all decisions, unchanged from the June quarter of 2017.
Overall, 83% of major and minor decisions were granted. In the 12 months to June 2018, 374,200 decisions were granted, down 3% on the figure for the year to June 2017.
