Section 106 timescales increase by 20% in two years - HBF

Home builders are now waiting an average of 515 days for infrastructure agreements to be finalised, adding significant delays to the planning process.

New analysis published by the Home Builders Federation highlights the delays in the section 106 agreement process, with 76% of local authorities reporting average negotiation timescales exceeding 12 months.

Section 106 agreements between local authorities and developers set out the contributions that developers must make to support the local community, such as funding for schools, roads, public spaces, and affordable housing.

Responses to a Freedom of Information request by HBF to local planning authorities reveal that the average time to finalise s106 agreements has increased by 20% over two years, from 425 days in 2022/23 to 515 days in 2024/25.

The research also found that 35% of all s106 agreements took longer than 12 months to complete, with the longest recorded timescale reaching as high as 2,679 days, or seven years. HBF says that these delays affect developments of all sizes, they are particularly challenging for small and medium sized (SME) developers.

“Lack of capacity in local authorities is thought to be a key contributing factor to delays,” says HBF. “It is estimated …