Builder calls for action as planning approvals reach decade low

BRiCS, based in Durley, said the decrease in approvals is stark proof of the housing crisis challenge.

The builder, which has plans for substantial growth over the next five years, said SME builders need more support to help meet housing targets alongside large PLC operations.

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) recently revealed that the number of development sites gaining planning approval across England has continued to fall.

In the 12 months to June 2024, the lowest number of new home permissions in more than a decade were granted, with just 10,400 sites approved, 10 per cent down on the previous year.

Hugo Reeve, managing director (land and development) of BRiCS, said: "The number of permissions for new homes in England have been on a downward trajectory for the last two years.

"There was a time when planning approvals were 53 per cent higher than they are today.

"We need to get back to those numbers - and in fact higher - as soon as possible to meet the Government’s ambition.

"This latest drop is despite a wide acceptance that the country urgently needs new homes in the right places.

"We welcome the new Government's early interventions but much more will need to be done to hit the ambitious, but very necessary, mandatory housing targets."

The HBF said the lack of affordable mortgage availability remains a problem and called for more support for buyers, while urging the Government to take proactive steps in its Autumn budget.

Mr Reeve added: "We need to see a streamlining of the planning process, as well as many more planning and county council officers, so that developments can proceed through the system at the speed required.

"Even with such planning changes, the ambition of 370,000 annual new homes is a huge challenge given current levels, and this cannot be met by the large PLC housebuilders alone.

"It also requires significant growth in SMEs such as BRiCS, to deliver more varied designs at a local level."