A sharp decline in planning applications for housing developments has raised fears of a chronic property shortage and steeper house-price increases.
Figures seen by The Times show that the number of applications has fallen by half since January.
Only two housing schemes with more than 500 properties have been granted planning consent since the beginning of the year: one in North London and one in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire.
Planning applications across Britain were down 54% in the first nine months of this year compared with the same period a year earlier, according to Glenigan.
The Times Business 14/11/09 page 74
