From these applications, 89,500 were approved, up 4% on Q1 2016.

The speed of approval also showed a slight increase with 87% of major applications decided within 13 weeks (Q1 2016: 83%).

Residential applications granted were up 9% to 12,300, however, the 2,600 applications approved for commercial developments were down 2% on the previous year.

There were 9,200 applications for prior approval for permitted development rights, up 2% on Q1 2016.

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Out of these, 1,400 applications were for changes to residential use, of which 1,000 were approved without having to go through the full planning process.

For the year ending March 2017, district level planning authorities granted 386,000 decisions, up 4% on the year to March 2016.

Some 50,100 decisions were granted with regards to residential development for the year ending March 2017: 6,600 for major developments and 43,500 for minor.

This represented an increase of 12% and 6% respectively.

A total of 11,200 applications were granted for commercial development , down 1% on the figure for the year ending March 2016.