The House Builders Federation shared a recent article from Housing Today, describing the struggles being experienced by SME house builders.
The report highlights the impact that BNG, nutrient neutrality, land availability and S106 matters are having on the ability to obtain planning permission. In addition, more than half of the respondents advised that they had waited over a year for a permission.
Delays of this nature are going to impact on Government targets and without being addressed are going to render them defunct.
But what is causing the delays? Is it staff shortages, lack of experience within LPAs or a lack of consultee resources such as inhouse ecologists or planning solicitors? Is it the quality of application submissions?
General trends over the last year have seen a decline in the number of planning applications submitted, yet we haven’t seen a corresponding uptick in LPA performance.
We can all agree that there seem to be various sticking points that are making it harder than ever to get new homes delivered. Does this report tally with your experience? What improvements should be made? We would love to hear your opinions.
