Research from Landbay found that fewer than a quarter of UK landlords thought planning reform would have a positive impact on their business.
More than three-quarters (77%) of property investors said planning reforms would not help their buy-to-let businesses.
Only 13% believed easing planning rules could make it easier to buy new-builds, and just 9% thought planning reform could boost jobs and economic growth.
Nearly half (47%) of landlords said planning reform alone would not solve the housing crisis, pointing to the ongoing skills shortage in the construction sector.
Rob Stanton (pictured), sales and distribution director at Landbay, said: “If property investors are not convinced planning reform will positively affect their business, we’re in real trouble.
“Landlords are an important stakeholder in the planning system and the wider housing market, driving the conversion of properties to HMOs, refits and extensions – not to mention a chunk of new-build housing.
“So this level of scepticism and cynicism surrounding proposed reforms to our planning system is absolutely damning.
Stanton added: “As a country we clearly need planning reform. The Lower Thames Crossing has cost more than a quarter of a billion pounds just in planning and paperwork – not a single spade in the ground.
“It has cost us more to plan the crossing than it cost Norway to construct the world’s longest tunnel.
“HS2 is now the world’s most expensive railway line. The planning application to reopen the old 3-mile Portishead railway line is 80,000 pages long – with over 1,000 pages dedicated to bats.”
