·         870,000 planning applications have been made across the UK since 2017

·         Every planning application receives 2.2 objections on average

·         South Lanarkshire in Scotland registered the highest number of complaints for a single planning application

Almost two million people have complained about planning permission applications since the start of 2017, reveals new research¹ from Churchill Home Insurance. These people, commonly known as NIMBYs (“Not in My Back Yard”) are those who are opposed to an organisation, building or project being developed too close to where they live. With so many complaints across the UK, this works out at around 80 objections having been raised every hour over the past three years by NIMBYs.

Since the beginning of 2017, almost 870,000 planning permission applications have been submitted across the UK. As homeowners opt to expand their homes and towns and cities develop amenities to cope with ever changing needs, planning departments across the country are being inundated with 893 application forms every day, which is 37 per hour.

These 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.

Further research² reveals the issues that Britons feel they are in their rights to object to. Private rights of access (51 per cent) was the most commonly-cited reason, with loss of view and land and boundary disputes coming an equal second (both 50 per cent). Negative impact on property value (43 per cent) and the impact of construction works (39 per cent) completed the top five.

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.

“Our home insurance cover offers a 24-hour Legal advice line so anyone wanting to discuss how best to handle this situation is encouraged to call and seek some guidance from a legal expert.”

Regional findings

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).

London has received the highest number of objections, with a staggering 482,000 raised since 2017 which is over a quarter (26 per cent) of all objections noted. Overall, 55 objections have been raised in the capital since the start of 2017 for every 1,000 people living there. The South East comes a close second with 441,000 objections raised (49 per 1,000), followed by the South West (200,000, or 39 per 1,000) and the East of England (170,000, or 28 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.

Despite 54 per cent of UK adults believing councils do not take enough account of residents’ objections when determining planning approvals, the project was eventually abandoned in June 2019 following one in every 45 people living in the area complaining about it.

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).

Table one: Top 10 councils in the UK with the highest number of complaints for a single planning application

Source: Churchill Home Insurance 2019

For more information on Churchill Home Insurance please visit https://www.churchill.com/home-insurance

ENDS                                                                                                

Notes to Editor

¹          FOI request issued to all UK councils on 29 July 2019, of which 51% replied to the request with usable data. Extrapolated figures calculated based on the populations of participating councils as a proportion of the overall regional population to work out the estimated total number of applications and rejections on a regional level

²          Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults between 13^th and16th September 2019 

 

 

For further information please contact:

Chelsey Wheeler
HOME PR Manager

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: [email protected]

Nick Andrews

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

[email protected]

0207 282 1050

Churchill

Founded in 1989, Churchill is now one of the UK's leading providers of general insurance, offering car, home, travel and pet insurance cover over the phone or on-line.

Churchill general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.  

Churchill and U K Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.  

Customers can find out more about Churchill products or get a quote by calling 0300 200300 or visiting www.churchill.com