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Interview
From a lender’ s perspective, planning risk increases the chance of a facility needing extensions. Lenders price that uncertainty in, which for SMEs often means more equity is required upfront or tighter terms.
The knock-on effect is that fewer sites become bankable. The sites most affected by planning uncertainty are often the schemes where SMEs deliver well, such as small urban infill and brownfield plots. When those variables cannot be pinned down early, viability gets squeezed quickly.
Are some regions getting planning right more than others, and what can others learn from them? There are clear signs that some regions are getting planning right more than others. Recent HBF and Glenigan data suggests that areas such as the North West, Yorkshire & Humber, parts of the East Midlands, and the South East have generally shown more resilience in planning approvals than many other regions, despite the wider slowdown in housing delivery.
What tends to separate the strongerperforming areas is not necessarily that decisions are made dramatically faster, but that the planning process is more predictable and consistent. Authorities with up-to-date local plans and clearer policy frameworks give developers greater certainty around outcomes and viability, while proactive planning teams also support a more streamlined process.
Where the system works well, the conversation moves quickly beyond debating planning principles and focuses instead on solving delivery challenges. That certainty is incredibly important for SME developers. Confidence to invest in land and commit capital often comes from knowing what the planning process is likely to deliver, rather than simply how quickly a decision is issued.
The lesson for other regions is that consistency and clarity can be just as valuable as speed. Developers are far more willing to
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