The number of residential planning applications granted in England fell by 8.3% in 2023, according to new research from real estate investment manager Monta Capital.
The data shows that in the year 2018-19, there were a total of 46,808 residential planning applications granted in England, a figure which includes both minor and major residential developments.
In the following year, 2019-20, this number dropped by 6.6% to a total of 43,701 grants before falling again in 2020-21, this time by 10.9%.
A third consecutive decline was recorded in 2021-22 (-2.7%), followed by a fourth in 2022-23 when total grants fell by 8.3% to 34,785.
Monta’s analysis further reveals that permissions for major residential projects have fallen at a faster rate than any other sort of development. Applications for major residential developments – defined as those consisting of 10 or more new dwellings with a combined floorspace of more than 10,000 sq ft – fell by 11.5% in 2022-23.
Thomas Balashev, chief executive at Monta Capital, said: “It is hard to rationalise declining planning application grants in a country that so desperately needs new homes to be built in huge numbers and at great pace.
“We should be seeing grants increase as the nation fights to provide the required homes. The fact that we are seeing the opposite suggests to me that government rhetoric and pledges to increase development are little more than hot air and having no real impact on the ground floor.”
He added: “As we move into election season, we are going to hear more and more housing pledges accompanied by optimistic, albeit unimaginative plans to address the situation. But what we need is genuine action. We have seen nothing but negative planning trends since well before the pandemic, so it is important that pressure is placed on all parties to follow through on their promises should they take, or retain, power.”
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