The top 15 Local Planning Authorities in the UK for refusing new major housing development has been revealed. Property data provider, Search Acumen, has found that the majority of councils refusing at least 1 in 2 submissions for major new housing in 2023 are mostly from London, the South East, and East of England. 

Looking at planning permissions refused for all major residential developments of more than 10 units in 2023, in which at least 10 applications were submitted last year, Mole Valley was the top UK Local Planning Authority who refused the most decisions at 77%. The Surrey district, run by the Liberal Democrats, is adjoined to the Surrey Hills - a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty - with an average house price of £565,000. 

In fact, 12 of the top 15 Local Planning Authorities who refused at least 50% of major housing developments were in London, the South East, or the East of England, meaning housebuilders here have the lowest chance of obtaining a successful planning application in the country. The analysis also points to councils where no one party has a majority to have an increased likelihood (60%) of major new housing developments being refused, as political instability stifles development despite the national housing crisis.