1. The minister quotes a figure of 9,520 approvals for new rural dwellings in 2004/05. The Commercial Information Company (CIC) (a specialist provider of Planning information supplied by the Planning Service) records a figure of 8,216 Full and Outline approvals. To arrive at the Minister's figure we must assume that he has included Reserved Matters approvals which numbered 1,133. This is effectively 'double counting' because no-one with Outline Permission can start to build until they have received Reserved Matters approval at which point they appear for a second time in the statistics.

2. The Minister also states that the figure for 2005/2006 will be well over 12,000, but the CIC figures show 6,983 Full and Outline approvals to 10/3/06 which is only three weeks short of the full year. This is a FALL of at least several hundred and certainly nowhere near the 12,000 quoted.

3. The Minister states that the number of rural planning approvals here are three times the combined total of England, Scotland and Wales. Using his own figures for 2004/2005 that combined total would be 9,520 divided by 3 = 3,173 in Great Britain. There are two sources of statistics for the rest of the UK. Firstly from the Planning Authorities for single plot planning permissions which produces a figure of about 20,000 per annum. Secondly, from HM Customs who process about 12,000 selfbuild reclaims per annum. However, many selfbuilders use builders who are VAT registered so the true figure is closer to the 20,000 than 12,000. Admittedly some of these could be urban or brownfield sites but in either case they are considerably greater than 3,173.

The DRD must explain these apparent discrepancies in the statistics quoted in the Ministerial statement. They would appear to substantially undermine the primary case put forward that these draconian measures are necessary to curb an 'explosion' of planning approvals.

4. The figures do not represent the number of houses being built on the ground in the countryside. All the statistics quoted refer to 'approvals' which have been artificially stimulated by applicants trying to 'beat the legislation'. A more accurate measure of actual annual building activity is the number of Full and Reserved Matters approvals which are as follows : 00/01=3,275, 01/02=3,373, 02/03=3,492, 03/04=3,472, 04/05=4,167, 05/06=4,135. A small increase in the last two years but not amounting to the 'crisis' implied by the Minister's statement.

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Understanding the figures

Outline approval is agreement 'in principle' to the construction of a house. The building cannot be started until full details are submitted as Reserved Matters.

If you want to count the actual number of houses being 'built' in the countryside as a proportion of the total you omit the Outlines and add the figures for Full and Reserved Matters only.

If you want to measure the total number of planning 'approvals' given each year then you omit Reserved Matters and only count Full and Outline.

If you include Reserved Matters approvals you are 'double counting' those who have already received Outline approval and who are now only submitting details of their building for Reserved Matters approval in order that it may proceed.

In recent years, Outline Planning Applications have been artificially inflated by those trying to 'beat' the impending planning restrictions. The number of houses actually built on the ground has historically been considerably less than the approvals granted.