870,000 planning applications have been made across the UK since 2017, each receiving 2.2 objections on average.
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Almost two million people have complained about planning permission applications since the start of 2017, according to new research from Churchill Home Insurance.
It notes that since the beginning of 2017, almost 870,000 planning permission applications have been submitted across the UK. The applications include building new homes, hotels, hospitals, car parks, wind turbines, creating landfill sites and waste industries as well as extensions to existing properties. On average, each planning application receives 2.2 objections.
Craig Rixon, Head of Churchill home insurance, said: “The environment in which we live is constantly evolving. Whether it be homes needing to expand for growing families or changes to towns and cities to cope with demands, planning permission is at the forefront of it all. Although many new developments like hospitals and car parks are used by most of society, it is understandable that people would not want them to be situated close to their home. Not everyone can afford to or wants to move, so often we are left with no choice but to complain about the unwanted facility.”
Regionally, the East of England has the highest number of planning applications per 1,000 residents, with 19.3 applications per 1,000 over the last three years. This is closely followed by Northern Ireland (18.7 per 1,000) and the South East (18.1 per 1,000).
South Lanarkshire Council in Scotland has received the highest number of complaints for a single planning application in the past three years. This occurred in 2017 when 7,080 people registered their objections for the Hamilton incinerator, which was commissioned in 2013.
Other areas where a high volume of objections have been registered for a single planning application include Newcastle-upon-Tyne (3,937), Swale (3,734) and Aberdeenshire (3,004).
