New government figures show a fall in the number of planning applications lodged.

In the year ending December 2022, councils received 409,500 planning applications in England – which was down 14% on the year ending December 2021.

In terms of decisions, planning authorities decided 385,800 applications in the year ending December 2022. That was down 10% on the year before.

The figures have been published by the Department for Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities.

Other key statistics included:

• 336,500 applications granted in the year ending December 2022 – down 11% on 2021
• 48,700 decisions were made on applications for residential developments – of which 35,600 (74%) were granted
• Permission was granted tor 287,300 homes in the year to December 2022 – down 9% on the 315,000 in 2021

Most homes given consent were in applications for 10 units or more – representing 260,800 out of the total of 287,300.

The most were in London (63,700), followed by the South East (44,400), East of England (35,800) and East Midlands (32,100). The fewest were in the North East (7,700) and the West Midlands (21,000).

In the year ending December 2022, 8,200 decisions were made on applications for commercial developments, of which 7,400 (90%) were granted.

The number of commercial decisions made were down 5% from the previous year, with the number granted down 5% from the year ending December 2021.

Clearly delays in local plans and uncertainty around the future of the planning system have not helped over the past year along with economic volatility.

Greater clarity and meaningful reform is sorely needed as well as set targets for local authorities to reach to ensure housebuilding is encouraged and as many barriers as possible removed.

ENDS