The figures in the Home Builders Federation’s latest Housing Pipeline cover the first three months of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework.
Planning permissions during this period slumped by a third to just 24,872 homes across England compared to the earlier three months of the year.
The housing industry has seized on the figures warning that Government has received a wake-up call to enforce its new planning policy among councils.
Housing permissions are now running at well under half the 55,466 granted in the same quarter in 2007.
To meet officially projected need, the industry must build 60,000 homes per quarter in England alone.
Prevailing economic conditions and a lack of mortgage availability remain the largest short-term constraints on home building, but planning remains the most serious long term constraint.
The NPPF replaced the old ‘top down’ planning system of housing targets and handed much more power to local authorities for housing delivery.
The HBF said the figures clearly demonstrated why Government must ensure local authorities meet their responsibilities under the new system.
Mike Leonard, Director of the Modern Masonry Alliance, said: “The Prime Minister says we need to" Get Britain Building" We agree so let's stop promising and start the volume delivery of new homes of all tenures.
“We also need to create the conditions for finance companies to build homes and access to affordable mortgages to allow consumers to buy new homes.
“This is now critical if we are to create the Jobs and Growth we need so badly for UK PLC.”
