Brexit hits home improvement market with planning applications down almost 3%

Home improvement figures across Britain decreased throughout 2018 with the number of planning applications dropping by 2.8% compared with 2017, hit by Brexit uncertainty. Despite a fall in applications, London held onto the top spot, even though it saw a reduction in the number of planning applications in 29 of its 32 boroughs, whilst the biggest growth in applications came from North West England, with an increase of 5%. The figures from the Home Improvers report compiled by construction industry analysts Barbour ABI, also show that applications in the capital hit a peak in 2015 and 2016, with one application for home improvement made in each year for every 26 private homes.