Conservative councils less likely to approve housebuilding schemes

Local councils under Conservative control are less likely to approve large housebuilding schemes than Labour ones, according to research that highlights the impact of local politics on Britain's housing shortage.

Last year, Conservative-run councils in England rejected 25 per cent of applications for developments of more than 10 homes, according to official figures analysed by property consultancy Daniel Watney. By contrast, Labour local authorities rejected 11 per cent of such applications.

Last month, it emerged that Eric Pickles, the communities secretary, had rejected plans to build nearly 10,000 homes in total in the run-up to the general election, in a move to avoid antagonising voters.

Across England, 25 per cent of all residential planning applications were rejected in 2014, the research found. Housing schemes were far more likely to be rejected than plans for offices and industrial sites: just 10 per cent of these applications did not succeed.

The Conservative-controlled London borough of Kingston-upon-Thames had the worst record in the country, with just 54 per cent of the applications it received in 2014 being granted.

Of the 10 councils with the lowest level of approvals across England, five were Conservative-controlled, three had no overall political party in control, and one each was controlled by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Of the 10 councils with the highest level of planning application approvals in 2014, nine were controlled by the Labour party. The highest approval rate in the country was in Wigan, where 92 per cent of applications were agreed by the council.

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Charles Mills, head of planning at Daniel Watney, said the Conservatives had strong support in suburban areas "which are more prone to opposing development on account of it reducing their house prices or causing disruption".

He also warned that "resources are still being cut for [local council planning departments] at a time where every politician is making wild promises to build new homes".

All the main political parties have promised to increase housebuilding, although economists and academics have expressed scepticism about the plans.

The Conservative party has said it will create 200,000 "starter homes" for first-time buyers, priced at a 20 per cent discount to the market value.

The Labour party plans to exempt first-time buyers from stamp duty on homes worth under £300,000. It has also promised tougher rules for private landlords.

The Liberal Democrats want to build 10 garden cities.

"If we're serious, we need to treat planning with more respect, properly resource our councils and take tough, strategic decisions around the homes and infrastructure we wish to build," Mr Mills said.

Councils have speeded up their decision-making, the analysis found: 71 per cent of applications were approved within the 13-week deadline set by the government, up from just 58 per cent the previous year.

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