According to recent government figures, the number of planning consents for extensions, conversions and refurbishments in England are at the lowest level in more than a decade.
Local authorities are said to have approved 149,747 home improvement planning applications in 2025, which is the first time the figure has dropped below 150,000 in 15 years and 27% below the average over the past 10 years.
According to Savills, which analysed the data, a combination of higher construction costs, a weak economy, slow house growth and the financial impact of the Iran war – including higher borrowing costs – mean that homeowners are now more worried about their return on investment for big projects.
The latest data is a stark contrast to the pandemic boom of 2021, which saw over 250,000 planning applications for large scale home renovations.
What impact has this had on the retail sector of our industry? Well, according to the latest Business Pilot Barometer, conversion rates ‘edged up’ in April from March, although lead volumes remain more volatile. Sales performance is also down marginally month on month.
Lead times are down, which could indicate improved operational efficiency, or that there are fewer jobs in the pipeline.
Either way, with conditions as challenging as they are, tools such as Business Pilot continue to offer installers a more intelligent way to manage workflow – along with the latest quoting platforms such as Tommy Trinder, which has just launched a slick new AI tool that can create a photo realistic render of new windows on a customer’s house.
You can read more about both in this week’s newsletter.
Home renovation approvals at 10 year low
According to recent government figures, the number of planning consents for extensions, conversions and refurbishments in England are at the lowest level in more than a decade.
Local authorities are said to have approved 149,747 home improvement planning applications in 2025, which is the first time the figure has dropped below 150,000 in 15 years and 27% below the average over the past 10 years.
According to Savills, which analysed the data, a combination of higher construction costs, a weak economy, slow house growth and the financial impact of the Iran war – including higher borrowing costs – mean that homeowners are now more worried about their return on investment for big projects.
The latest data is a stark contrast to the pandemic boom of 2021, which saw over 250,000 planning applications for large scale home renovations.
What impact has this had on the retail sector of our industry? Well, according to the latest Business Pilot Barometer, conversion rates ‘edged up’ in April from March, although lead volumes remain more volatile. Sales performance is also down marginally month on month.
Lead times are down, which could indicate improved operational efficiency, or that there are fewer jobs in the pipeline.
Either way, with conditions as challenging as they are, tools such as Business Pilot continue to offer installers a more intelligent way to manage workflow – along with the latest quoting platforms such as Tommy Trinder, which has just launched a slick new AI tool that can create a photo realistic render of new windows on a customer’s house.
You can read more about both in this week’s newsletter.
Luke Wood
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