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The number of residential units approved rose by 15% during the final quarter of 2024, building on an increase during the preceding three months. The strengthening in approvals during the second half of the year limited the decline during 2024 to 2%.
At 2,663, the number of housing projects granted planning permission in the fourth quarter rose by 4% against the preceding quarter but were 15% lower than a year ago. Overall 10% fewer housing projects secured approval during 2024 than during the previous year. The number of units approved during the fourth quarter rose by 15% against the previous three months to 77,284 units and was 1% higher than during the fourth quarter of 2023.
Housing schemes of ten or more units during the fourth quarter accounted for 93% of approved units. At 71,857, the number of units on such schemes was 16% up on the preceding quarter and was 3% higher than a year earlier. The remaining 7% of units were on smaller new build projects of up to nine units including self-build schemes together with homes included within non-residential projects and from the conversion of non-residential properties.
At 1,718 the number of private sector housing projects (schemes of 3 or more units) securing approval was 1% lower than in the third quarter and was 15% down on a year earlier. At 68,357 the number of units on private sector projects granted planning permission was 17% up on the previous three months but 2% lower than a year earlier. The increase was driven by a rise in the number of approvals on larger sites of 100 units or more. Overall, at 240,279 the number of units on private sector projects granted planning permission during 2024 was 3% lower than during the previous year.
At 119, the number of social housing projects (of three or more units) rose 10% during the fourth quarter and was 8% higher than a year ago. At 7,974, the number of units was 1% lower than during the preceding quarter but 56% higher than a year earlier.
Regionally, most parts of the Great Briain saw a rise the number of units approved during the fourth quarter. The North East, Yorkshire & the Humber and West Midlands bounced back strongly from weak approval levels during the preceding three months, rising by 177%, 79% and 134% respectively against the preceding quarter. There were also strong double digit rises in unit approvals in the East of England (59%), South East (21%) and Wales (24%). Units approved in the North West fell back 42% after a surge in approvals during the previous quarter. Units approved were also lower in Scotland (-4%) and London (-12%).
Over the course of 2024, the North East, North West, East of England, South West and Wales were the only parts of the country to see an increase in unit approvals, with rises of 8%, 25%, 2%, 2% and 10% respectively against 2023.
