New government figures show just over 30,000 projects got the greenlight last year – the smallest number since records began in 1979.
Unsurprisingly the news has cast doubt on Labour’s plans to deliver 1.5 million new homes before the next general election. However, experts have remarked that the party haven’t even been in power for a year yet and that turning around the planning system would take time.
The research, which was published today (20th March), covered the number of permissions granted not the number of individuals homes. They include minor projects of fewer than 10 homes and major projects comprised of 10 or more.
On the subject of properties, the figures also found the number of decisions on housing, including those rejected, drastically reduced.
Commenting on the news, a spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: ‘These figures show the scale of the housing crisis we inherited along with a broken planning system that stunted growth.
‘That’s why we’re already bringing forward pro-growth measures to fix this and deliver the 1.5 million new homes we need, including mandatory housing targets through an updated National Planning Policy Framework and our newly introduced landmark Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will overhaul planning committees to fast track and streamline decisions.
‘This alongside an additional £100million to bolster local resources with increased planning fees to cover costs, and funding to recruit 300 planning officers, making sure councils have the staff and capacity needed to approve homes for local people.’
In a bid to boost development and homes figures, earlier this month the government announced councils would be granted new powers to seize land and speed up building.
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