Planning approvals for new homes at record low, figures show

Planning approvals for new homes at record low, figures show

Daniel Wainwright and Harriet Agerholm, data journalists from BBC Verify, shared concerning news regarding the number of planning approvals for new homes in England. The data revealed that fewer than 29,000 projects were granted permission by councils in the year ending June 2025, marking a record low. This significant drop in approvals poses a challenge to the government’s goal of delivering 1.5 million homes by the next election.

The newly appointed housing secretary, Steve Reed, emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue with the planning system, acknowledging that the solution will not be immediate. On the other hand, Conservative shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly criticized Labour’s flagship planning reforms for failing to meet the promise of significant construction progress.

Despite the overall decline in planning approvals, a larger proportion of applications decided by councils were approved. Approximately three-quarters of applications were granted permission in the year leading to June 2025, indicating an increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, separate data from housing contractor Glenigan reported a decrease in the number of individual homes granted permission, suggesting a challenging road ahead to meet housing targets.

Mr. Reed asserted his commitment to tackling the housing crisis by pledging to leave no stone unturned in building 1.5 million homes. His comprehensive strategy includes collaborating with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to stimulate house building in the capital and implementing reforms in the Building Safety Regulator’s operations. The government’s ambitious plans also involve a substantial £39 billion investment over ten years to construct social and affordable homes, reflecting a proactive approach to address the housing shortage

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