New housing pipeline

Quarter 3, 2023 Report

Approvals continued to decline during the third quarter, continuing the downward trend seen over the last two years. At 2,778, the number of housing projects granted planning permission in the third quarter slipped by 2% against the preceding quarter and was 18% lower than a year ago. The number of approvals during the first nine months of 2023 were also 18% lower than a year ago.

The number of units approved during the third quarter dropped by 8% against the previous three months to total 61,221 units and was 21% lower than during the third quarter of last year. Overall approvals totalled 198,121 units during the first nine months of 2023, an 18% decline on a year ago.

Housing schemes of ten or more units during the third quarter accounted for 91% of approved units. At 55,510, the number of units on such schemes dropped by 8% against the second quarter and were 21% down on a year ago. The remaining 9% of units were on smaller new build projects of up to nine units including self-build schemes together with homes included within non-residential projects and from the conversion of non-residential properties.

At 1,722 the number of private sector housing projects (schemes of 3 or more units) securing approval was 8% down on the second quarter and was 21% down on a year earlier. At 54,638 the number of units on private sector projects granted planning permission slipped by 4% against the second quarter and was 20% lower than a year ago.

At 76, the number of social housing projects (of three or more units) has fallen back sharply, dropping by 16% on the second quarter to stand 44% down on a year ago. At 4,358, the number of units was 42% down on the preceding quarter and 39% lower than a year earlier.

Table 1: Number of residential units approved
North of England Midlands Southern England England (All) Wales Scotland Great Britain
2019 75,069 70,104 182,739 327,912 11,889 41,932 381,733
2020 70,442 59,229 159,943 289,613 7,271 32,806 329,690
2021 78,303 58,908 182,510 319,721 11,806 35,504 367,031
2022
62,708 54,637 175,286 292,631 8,399 26,282 327,312
2023 Q1 -Q3 44,334 32,771 92,651 169,756 5,330 23,035 198,121

Change on a year earlier
2019
0% 18% 2% 4% 14% 47% 8%
2020
-6% -16% -12% -12% -39% -22% -14%
2021
11% -1% 14% 10% 62% 8% 11%
2022
-20% -7% -4% -8% -29% -26% -11%
2023 Q1 -Q3 -8% -23% -26% -22% -13% 24% -18%

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