New build planning permissions in 'significant rise', HBF figures show

The HBF's Housing Pipeline report (8-page / 247KB PDF) revealed that 33,881 residential planning approvals were granted in the third quarter of the year, an increase of 36% on the 24,872 approvals in the second quarter. The figure is 17% higher than in the same period last year.

The HBF said in a statement that the figures were a "welcome improvement", but that they were still "well short" of the 60,000 approvals needed in each quarter to meet demand.

The HBF said that some of the increase could be attributed to the "positive planning principles" set out under the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which give local authorities more power over what is built in their areas. It also said that the "robust appeal system" under the NPPF has resulted in a number of successful appeals in instances where local authorities are behaving unreasonably.

“The increase is good news and hopefully a reflection of the positive planning principles of the new system," said HBF executive chairman Stewart Baseley. "It is just one quarterly increase and we are still well short of the number needed but we hope it starts a trend that will continue in 2013."

“The new system gives much more power to local authorities to take control over what is being built in their areas. This is necessarily underpinned by a robust appeals process where local authorities are not meeting the responsibilities they have to their communities," he said.

"While we are hopefully seeing a turning point in planning permissions much more can be done. The policy announcements within the Growth and Infrastructure Bill coupled with measures to kickstart stalled sites and a real and concerted effort to reduce red tape are vital to continuing this important progress," he said.