Number of planning permissions for homes rises
New government figures show that house building in England now stands at its highest level since 1989 and some 168,000 homes have been built in 2006 and 2007.
The number of planning permissions granted for new homes have risen markedly during the last five years as has the growth in housing output.
"These figures are clear evidence that the planning system does respond to demand and is not an obstacle to development," said Kate Gordon from the Campaign to Protect Rural England.
She explained that how new development takes place needs to be properly agreed through the planning process, so that it takes advantage of opportunities to regenerate run down and derelict land and provide affordable homes, while safeguarding the countryside from unnecessary development.
The number of new homes completed each year has now risen every year since 2001 according to the new figures.
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