Decline in planning application submissions

Statistics released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show a decline in the amount of planning applications submitted between April and June 2024 compared to the previous year.

84,400 applications for planning permission were received by district-level planning authorities between April and June 2024, which is 9% lower than the amount received for the same period in 2023.

Of the applications received:

• 81,800 were decided which is a 6% decline from the previous year;
• 70,200 applications were granted (around 86%), reflecting a 7% drop year-on-year.

In terms of the kind of planning applications granted:

• 7,600 were residential applications, down 5% from the previous year;
• 1,600 were commercial applications, down 9% from the previous year; and
• 42,100 were householder development applications, down from the previous year.

A total of 91% of major planning applications received were decided with 13 weeks of receipt, or the agreed time.

To the year ending June 2024, a total of 280,000 planning decisions were granted by district-level planning authorities - 11% fewer than in the year to June 2023. These applications included 31,600 residential applications, although again this figure was down 8% from the previous year. 

The decline in planning applications and approvals could have significant implications for housing supply and development in England, potentially affecting the overall construction industry and housing market.