Planning approvals hit record low as reforms stall

A new BBC report highlights just how deep the challenges in England’s planning system have become. Official figures show planning approvals for new homes fell to their lowest level on record during Labour’s first year in office, with fewer than 29,000 projects granted permission in the year to June 2025.

Between April and June alone, just 7,000 applications were approved – the weakest three-month total since records began in 1979. The slowdown strikes a serious blow to the Government’s target of delivering 1.5 million homes before the next election.

While councils are approving a higher proportion of applications they do decide on, backlogs, resourcing pressures and legislative delays continue to hold the system back. Housing Secretary Steve Reed has admitted the figures are “unacceptable,” pledging to overhaul the system – but also conceding that reform “won’t happen overnight.”

For the West Country, where demand for new homes is particularly acute, these delays and uncertainties are being felt on the ground. Planning departments are stretched, projects are stalled, and developers are hesitant to invest while key reforms remain stuck in the House of Lords.

If the Government is serious about delivering on its housing promises, decisive action is needed. Passing the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and setting out clear timelines for implementation would give councils, developers and communities the confidence to move forward. Without this, the gap between ambition and delivery will only widen.

Read the report here