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New home planning permissions pass 200,000 mark

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  • 28/07/2015
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House building permissions have risen to pass 200,000 units a year for the first time since 2008, partly driven by the Help to Buy equity scheme, although building remains at crisis levels.

The Home Builder’s Federation (HBF) figures show a 19% rise with 52,167 permissions in Q1 this year, although RICS estimates the shortfall at 130,000 builds a year to fight the acknowledged housing crisis.

The statistics show 203,810 permissions were granted in the 12 months to April, which is the highest ‘four quarter’ total since early 2008.

The HBF said the lengthy approvals process and lack of land to build on is holding back the industry’s ability to match increasing demand. The Government’s Productivity Plan released earlier this month – and this week’s Witten Ministerial Statement on planning – should help but local authorities, which have been locally charged with new homes delivery must step up to the challenge, said the HBF.

“Increasing housing delivery will provide the high quality homes our next generation needs, support thousands of companies up and down the land and create tens of thousands of jobs,” said Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the HBF.

Yesterday, a new All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Housing and Planning was announced to be chaired by James Cartlidge, Conservative MP for South Suffolk.

The group, supported by RICS, is tasked with recommending wide-ranging, innovative solutions to reshape the housing market and find solutions to the annual building shortfall of 130,000 homes.

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