Approvals for new homes fall to record low as Michael Gove accused of letting Nimbis

Michael Gove has been accused of “ripping out” Nimbys. Photo: Twitter

The number of planning permissions issued for new homes has plummeted to its lowest level on record as Michael Gove is accused of «giving up» Nimby.

In the third quarter of the year Only 2,447 projects were approved, which is 3 percent less than in the previous year. According to the Federation of Home Builders, this is 19 percent lower than in the same period last year.

The new figures come a day before the Housing Secretary is expected to confirm he is relaxing planning guidelines in the proposal. to reassure Conservatives.

Mr Gove will say green belt land will no longer have to be sacrificed to meet local housing needs.

He will announce the end of the requirement for councils to set aside conservation land to meet future population growth and will introduce new rules that will allow authorities to reduce the number of houses they build, rather than encroaching on the green belt.

HBF said the changes would inevitably lead to further declines in building permits in the coming months and years, with housing construction likely to collapse in some areas.

The group's latest data shows that in the third quarter In 2023, 50,316 housing units were granted planning permission in England, down 12 percent on the previous quarter and 28 percent below the same quarter in 2022.

< img src="/wp -content/uploads/2023/12/286fff11c65250ae5f468064bb04005e.jpg" />The Housing Secretary is expected to confirm he is relaxing planning guidelines in a bid to reassure Conservative backbenchers. Photo: WPA Pool/Getty

In the year to September 2023, the number of apartments approved was 245,872, down 15 percent on the previous year and the lowest 12-month figure since 2015.

If a 15 percent drop in apartment approvals this year leads to completions in 2024, housing supply could fall to less than 200,000 units a year, the lowest level since 2014.

Stuart Baisley, executive chairman of the HBF, said Mr Gove's reforms would make things worse.

“This is the inevitable result of several years of anti-growth policies and rhetoric,” he said. “Companies have been warning for some time that the consequences of government actions would be severe, but now more evidence is emerging.

Stuart Baisley, executive chairman of the HBF, said Mr Gove's reforms would make the situation worse

“If ministers continue to put forward proposals by ridding the planning system of targets and consequences, no matter how it is framed, it will lead to fewer new homes and will be another victory for Nimby supporters.»

He added: «Abolishing the requirement for conducting local housing needs assessments and allowing councils to plan to build as many homes as they wish will result in housing in some areas being destroyed by job investment and all communities suffering.

“Put policies and Party control over the interests of those households struggling with a worsening housing crisis may seem attractive in the short term, but the long-term consequences as the economy and society are dire.»