Planning permissions in England have halved since 2007, the latest Housing Pipeline report by Glenigan for the Home Builders Federation has revealed.<br> <br> The report shows that in 2011 only 115,000 permissions were granted, half the level needed to build the homes required to meet demand. This is the lowest number of permissions seen since the survey began in 2007, HBF said.<br> <br> In Q4 2011, 27,732 units were granted approval, a fall on Q3 and on the same period in 2010. The quarterly average in 2011 was 28,853 against 33,535 in 2010 and 53,116 in 2006. At 16,334, social unit approvals in 2011 were a dramatic 47% down on 2010 and 52% less than the number of permissions in 2006.<br> <br> "This is a stark reminder as to why government must stand firm and deliver a robust and adequate planning system," said HBF's executive chairman Stewart Baseley.<br> <br> "Government has recently unveiled some very positive measures aimed at boosting housing supply, particularly the NewBuy scheme, but they cannot succeed unless we have a truly pro-growth functioning planning system."