Labour responds to new data on local housing targets

Matthew Pennycook MP, Shadow Housing and Planning Minister, responding to new data on local housing targets, said:

“The devastating impact of Rishi Sunak and Michael Gove’s reckless decision to abolish local housing targets continues to be felt with dire consequences for housebuilding rates across England.

“Labour are the only party serious about boosting the supply of new homes to buy and rent.”

Ends

Notes

• Applications received for April to June 2023 were down 14% from 2022 Q2, applications decided were down 12% from 2022 Q2, and approvals granted were down 14% from 2022 Q2.

• This is the third worst quarter for total decisions since current records began over 20 years ago, with the only quarters worse being Q1 of this year and Q2 of 2020 at the start of the first lockdown. 

• In the year ending June 2023, district level planning authorities granted 315,500 decisions, down 13% from the year ending June 2022; and granted 34,100 residential applications, down 8% from the year ending June 2022.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/planning-applications-in-england-april-to-june-2023