UK homes with planning permission left unbuilt, England property, United Kingdom planning portal
UK homes with planning permission left unbuilt news
UK Residential Property Expansion + Housebuilding Issues: new home buyer searches data
28 June 2024
More than a million homes with planning permission left unbuilt since 2015
Kingsgrove Housing Development, Wantage, Oxfordshire, England:
The inaugural Planning Portal Market Index has found that more than a million homes granted planning permission since 2015 have not yet been built, equating to around a third of the total given the green light over the period. The figures cast doubt on the near-exclusive focus of the major parties on boosting housebuilding numbers by tweaking the planning system.
UK homes with planning permission unbuilt
At the same time, planning applications over the first five months of 2024 are at the lowest level since 2020, calling into question the scope for housebuilding numbers to recover in the coming years to meet ambitious manifesto targets.
The Planning Portal Market Index report offers the most up to date statistics on planning applications in England and Wales, with data reflecting the state of play as recently as 31 May – two months later than the period covered by the most recent official statistics. The statistics are drawn from planning applications submitted to local authorities in England and Wales – more than 90% of which are made through the Planning Portal.
Had all homes granted planning permission ultimately been built, the government’s target of building 300,000 new homes a year would have been achieved in eight of the last 10 years.
St Albans Village homes, England, UK:
Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, the operator of Planning Portal, said: “These figures suggest that the near-exclusive focus on the planning system in the political debate around housing is misplaced. Until recently, planning permission was being granted for enough new homes to meet the government’s targets.
“While the planning system is by no means perfect, and those homes granted permission could be in the wrong places, this data strongly suggests that policymakers need to look more widely at the factors stifling the completion of homes for which planning permission has been granted.”
The Planning Portal Market Index report highlighted the impact of high interest rates, skills shortages in the construction industry and materials shortages as possible culprits.
Geoff added: “High interest rates have a double impact on the completion of new homes. By dampening the housing market in the short term, they limit the potential commercial rewards available to housebuilders for proceeding with projects. At the same time, the high cost of borrowing to finance projects in the first place pushes up costs and eats into developer profits.
“This is compounded by the well-publicised challenges facing the construction sector in overcoming skills shortages that have left its headcount more than a quarter of million short of the number needed to meet projected demand. Meanwhile, the supply of fundamental construction supplies of bricks and blocks are down by 4.3% and 9.8% over the year to April, according to official statistics.
“Our analysis shows just how profound the challenges are for policymakers in ensuring enough new homes are built to meet the needs of a growing population.
Rosalind Andrews, Partner, Head of Planning, Highways and Environment at HCR Law, added: “The findings from the Planning Portal Application Index June 2024 report highlight the multifaceted challenges faced by the housebuilding sector. Increasing the delivery of much-needed homes across the UK is incredibly complex, with the number of residential planning permissions granted being only one aspect of the issue.
“Project viability is also a concern, given the increases in material costs and lending rates, as well as the new expenses associated with BNG requirements. Housebuilders are eager to commence construction and break ground.
“To meet the ambitious target of delivering 300,000 homes a year, it is crucial to address the industry’s capacity in terms of skilled labour. With the right support and training initiatives, the housebuilding sector can rise to this challenge and achieve these goals.”
The first Planning Portal Market Index report is available to download here: https://blog.planningportal.co.uk/2024/06/26/gain-early-market-insight-direct-from-the-application-source/
Comments on this UK homes with planning permission left unbuilt article are welcome.
UK Housing
UK Housing Designs – recent British property news selection from e-architect below:
New UK Housing: British Housebuilding
New UK Housing
Make Modular: UK Housing Delivery
Make Modular: UK Housing Delivery News
Lack of rental housing in the UK
Lack of rental housing
New UK homes for the North and Midlands
New UK homes for the North and Midlands
English Planning System
English Planning System
Fleet Street Hill Housing in London by Peter Barber Architects:
image from architect
Murray Grove Housing
Stadthaus photo : Will Pryce
English Architecture:
English Architecture Designs – chronological list
Location: UK
Contemporary British Homes
Recent British Home Designs
Black House, Kent, Southeast England
Architect: AR Design Studio
image courtesy of architects
Black House in Kent
A House for Essex, Essex, Southeast England
Design: FAT Architecture and Grayson Perry
photograph : Jack Hobhouse
A House for Essex
Balancing Barn, Suffolk, Southeast England
Design: MVRDV
photo : Living Architecture
Balancing Barn Suffolk
Hurst House, Buckinghamshire, Southern England
Design: John Pardey Architects with Ström Architects
photo : Andy Matthews
Buckinghamshire Property
Contemporary North European Homes
Recent North European Houses
Comments / photos for the UK homes with planning permission left unbuilt – Current British housebuilding issues page welcome.
