Planning applications across England and Wales fell to their lowest level in more than a decade during 2025, according to new data from Landmark Information Group.

Approximately 689,000 planning applications were submitted during the year, the lowest annual total recorded since 2012. New-build applications also declined by 5.5% year-on-year to 198,240, despite continued political focus on increasing housing supply.

The report found that planning activity has fallen every year since its post-pandemic peak in 2021, with higher development costs, viability pressures and economic uncertainty continuing to weigh on the market.

At the same time, uncertainty within the planning system appears to be increasing. Around 19% of applications were submitted with a decision still unknown, the highest proportion on record, suggesting growing delays and complexity within the approval process.

While larger developments remain relatively resilient, activity in smaller discretionary projects has weakened significantly. Extension applications have fallen 44% from post-lockdown highs, while alterations and conversions rose by 4.9% compared with 2024, reflecting growing demand for refurbishment and change-of-use schemes.

Josh Rains, Managing Director of Landmark Geodata, said: “While approval rates remain strong, fewer applications are coming forward in the first place. That points to deeper structural challenges in the planning system.”

The figures suggest that despite ongoing planning reform, developers remain cautious, with capacity constraints, funding pressures and uncertainty continuing to restrict the pipeline of new housing delivery.