Continuing rise in housebuilding shows planning system can deliver

New Government figures show that housebuilding in England now stands at its highest level since 1989, with 168,000 homes built in 2006/7.

There have been five years of growth in housing output, and the number of planning permissions granted for new homes has also risen markedly over the same period.

Kate Gordon, CPRE planning officer said: ‘These figures are clear evidence that the planning system does respond to demand and is not an obstacle to development.’

‘How new development takes place needs to be properly agreed through the planning process, so that it takes advantage of opportunities to regenerate run down and derelict land and provide affordable homes, while safeguarding the countryside from unnecessary development.’

The latest Government figures for 2006/07 show that the number of new homes completed has risen every year since 2001/02. Output has grown by 29% over those five years.