Disputed by developers

from the existing development plan to the LDP,” said a council spokesman. “The council’s own guidance for housing developers has been highly successful in bringing forward LDP sites in advance of the new plan being formally adopted.” He added the council had “excellent working relationships” with a range of housing developers.

Persimmon Homes said business was picking up across Swansea.

Andy Edwards, director at Persimmon Homes West Wales, said: “Far from putting developments on hold or scaling down, we continue to thrive as a business and our completions have increased year on year.”

He said the company expected to build 670 houses in its West Wales region, which includes Swansea, compared to 522 three years ago.

“Swansea in particular is an area of growth and we have outline planning permission for 750 houses at Garden Village, subject to signing Section 106 agreements, which we are working with Swansea Council to achieve,” he added.

The report, meanwhile, said the planning department’s performance had significantly improved in 2017/18.

The department received £1.28 million in planning application fees - a 20% rise on the previous year - but costs are said to be rising and savings have to be made.

But the report said the department’s enforcement service was juggling a big workload.

“Enforcement officers currently carry an average caseload of 81 complaints,” it said.