The Federation’s latest Housing Pipeline Report found that 10,400 sites were approved in the 12 months to June 2024.

This was the lowest figure in any 12 month period since the report began in 2006.

More recently, this 10,400 figure is a 10% drop from the same period a year earlier and 53% lower than the peak in 2008. For context, in the last 2010s an average of 240,000 homes were being delivered every year.

The number of units gaining approval has also reached a record low.

In the second quarter of 2024, 53,379 units were approved and this was the lowest quarterly figure since 2014. This was a 3% drop from the previous quarter and 13% lower than the same period in 2023.

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The Federation has welcomed the government’s plans to reform and improve planning in the UK, but has warned that permissions will need to increase by 55% if the target of 1.5 million homes is to be reached.

In addition to instilling greater confidence to encourage more investment in housing, the Federation has urged the government to reveal details of its plans to ease nutrient neutrality regulations.

Currently, 160,000 homes remain stuck in development due to these restrictions.

“The steep fall in planning permissions starkly illustrates the challenge the new government faces to boost housing supply,” said Neil Jefferson, CEO at the Home Builders Federation. “Whilst the speedy interventions on planning are very welcome, there are a number of determinants on housing supply levels.

“The upcoming budget provides an opportunity for the government to take more positive steps to address the mounting housing crisis and to commit to their pledge to get Britain building again.”