The Government’s push to improve planning approval rates stalled in 2024, as both applications and decisions dropped between July and September, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) revealed.
There were 81,562 planning applications, down 7% compared to 2023.
A total of 114,364 were on-hand at the start of the quarter, highlighting ongoing backlog issues.
During this period, 79,791 decisions were made, marking a decrease from the same quarter in the previous year.
Phil Lawford, national account manager of Saffron Building Society, said: “Labour’s promise to ‘get Britain building’ set high expectations, but today’s planning data reveals just how tough delivering on that pledge will be.
“Measures like giving local planning officers greater authority and raising house-building targets for councils are welcome, but solving the housing crisis means looking beyond the obvious and exploring every option.
Lawford added: “An often-overlooked piece of the housing puzzle is self and custom-build homes.
“Last year, 13,000 individuals in the UK embarked on building their own homes, and our research shows this option resonates with younger people – 64% of 18–24-year-olds have considered it.
“In a market where affordability and flexibility are increasingly out of reach, it’s encouraging to see younger people embracing the opportunity to create homes tailored to their needs, budgets, and lifestyles.
“If the Government puts its weight behind these projects, it could boost planning applications, help younger people into homes, and inject some much-needed energy into the market.”
