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Planning permissions reach eight-year peak as house building starts to boom (14 March 2016)

Date: 14/03/2016
Duncan Lewis, Legal News Solicitors, Planning permissions reach eight-year peak as house building starts to boom

New figures published in March show that the number of planning permissions for homes has risen by 6% compared with last year’s figure.

The number of major applications being processed swiftly by local authorities is also at an all-time high, with a record 81% decided within the required time.

As a result, the number of planning permissions granted for homes in 2015 was the highest since 2007 – according to analysis of Glenigan data published in March, permission was granted for 253,000 homes during 2015.

Government figures show that, as well as rising numbers of planning permissions for homes, the number of permissions granted overall between October and December 2015 represented a 4% increase on last year’s figures, with councils approving 92,000 planning applications.

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis said:

“We’ve brought the housing market back from the brink, with more than 700,000 new homes delivered since 2010 – and a further one million granted planning permission.

“Today’s figures are further good news for hard-working families and first-time buyers wanting to achieve their dream of home ownership, with construction rates up and plenty of homes in the pipeline.”

The reformed planning system and National Planning Policy Framework has cut more than 1,000 pages of guidance to around just 50 pages – simplifying the process for obtaining planning permission, while maintaining safeguards for the countryside, says the government.

The government is currently moving ahead with its landmark Housing and Planning Bill, which will help deliver on its ambition to build a further one million homes.

Measures in the Bill include more new affordable Starter Homes, with a new legal duty placed on councils to guarantee the delivery of Starter Homes on all reasonably sized new development sites – and to promote the delivery of Starter Homes in their area.

Permission will also be given in principle for sites identified in plans and brownfield registers, to give certainty around the sites that are suitable for housing, while protecting the green belt.

There will also be planning reforms to support small builders, requiring councils to ensure they have permission-shovel-ready plots to match the local demand for custom build.

Figures released recently as part of the English Housing Survey show that a decline in the number of people owning their home which lasted for more than a decade after 2003 has now been turned around, with figures showing there were more than 14 million owner-occupiers in the country in 2015.

Duncan Lewis Housing Solicitors

Duncan Lewis housing solicitors can advise companies and individuals on planning consents and appeals, including advising on commercial developments or self-builds.

The Duncan Lewis housing department also advises landlords and public sector or private sector tenants on a wide range of housing matters – including right to rent checks, landlord’s obligations under the Housing Act, disrepair of rented accommodation, Landlord and Tenant disputes, tenancy agreements and unlawful eviction.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide – and our housing law solicitors can also advise on Local Authority housing and council’s obligation to re-house.

For expert legal advice on housing law, call Duncan Lewis housing solicitors 0333 772 0409.

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