Planning permissions for new homes rose 49% year-on-year in Q2 2013 to 37,053 approvals, according to the latest Housing Pipeline report from HBF.<br><br>The figure was down on Q1, but was the highest Q2 level seen since 2008. In the first six months of 2013, permissions climbed 26% annually to total 77,686.<br><br>HBF said that this upward trend was “positive”. But it expressed industry concern over planning conditions – which local authorities attach to permissions, many of which must be met before work commences –that were scuppering the start of construction work.<br><br>In some instances, HBF said, the conditions constituted more than a hundred separate items.<br><br>Stewart Baseley, HBF’s executive chairman, said: “Local authorities must ensure planning conditions are not overly onerous or unrealistic, otherwise despite the success of Help to Buy, the much needed increase in housing supply will be held back.”<br><br>The 156,608 permissions achieved over the year to Q2 2013 was a 34% improvement on the low of 117,067 seen in the 12 months to Q3 2011. But it was still “well short” of the 220,000 permissions per year needed to meet housing demand.