Housebuilders are “dumbfounded” by planning delays, as councils fail to process one in seven applications on time.
Figures from the housing ministry show that over the past five years more than 6,500 applications to build ‘major developments’ of more than ten properties had not received a decision within the statutory 13-week time limit.
Yesterday councils said that they were not blame for the housing shortage, as 1m homes with permission had no been built over the past ten years.
Nine in ten major applications are granted permission, but 15% suffer delays.
One developer said he was “dumbfounded” by the delays, while the District Councils’ Network said the system simply needed to be properly resourced.
