Planning application slump undermines building target

PLANNING applications for building projects in the UK have fallen significantly, throwing the Government’s flagship house building target into doubt.

Total applications fell by 5 per cent in the three months to March compared with the same period last year.

The Government has pledged to build 300,000 homes a year, a steep rise on the 217,350 built in the 2016-17 financial year.

The figures came as a row erupted over the target, with Labour labelling it “meaningless” after it emerged the number had not been included in the Government’s updated planning bible.

But ministers dismissed the criticism and said targets for home delivery had never been included in the National Planning Policy Framework and that the Government remained committed to its 300,000 figure.

The planning application data spelt further gloom for the construction industry, which has reported woefully weak order books in recent months.

The housing market has lost £1billion in value in the past year, as transactions fell by 3.8 per cent.