More new homes are winning approval

Figures from industry body the Home Builders Federation (HBF) show 33,881 homes were approved in England in the third quarter of the year. That was a 36 per cent increase on the previous quarter and up 17 per cent on the same period last year.

The HBF said while a “welcome improvement”, the number is still well short of the 60,000 per quarter needed to meet demand, or the 64,500 that were being granted on average during 2006/07.

In Yorkshire and the Humber region 3,003 homes were approved during the quarter, up 34 per cent year-on-year and up 15 per cent on the second quarter. But that was less than half the 7,328 Yorkshire homes approved in the second quarter of 2007.

However, the HBF said overhauls to the planning system through the National Planning Policy Framework should see this improving trend continue as it is underpinned by an appeals system which can overturn rejections by local authorities, where they do not meet community needs.

Executive chairman Stewart Baseley said: “The increase is good news and hopefully a reflection of the positive planning principles of the new system.

“It is just one quarterly increase and we are still well short of the number needed but we hope it starts a trend that will continue in 2013.”