The number of major residential planning decisions granted in the first three months of 2023 fell by 16% to its lowest first quarter figure for over 10 years, according to the latest official data.

The figures from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities also show that the reduction in approvals is not just down to a continued slump in the number of applications, but also that councils are approving a lower proportion of applications than at any point since 2015.

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