Planning approvals for new homes in England drop to 13-year low

The number of new homes approved in England hit a 13-year low in early 2025, with only 39,170 approvals in Q1, a 55% drop from the previous quarter, as reported by the Home Builders Federation (HBF). HBF’s CEO Neil Jefferson called the situation “disastrous” for housing supply, urging the government to address issues like lack of affordable mortgage lending and support for first-time buyers. Despite Labour’s goal of building 1.5 million homes, the rolling annual approval figure stands at just 225,067, the lowest since 2012, highlighting the urgent need for effective planning reforms and government action.