The number of households in England is projected to grow from 20.2 million in 1996 to 24.0 million by 2021, an increase of 3.8 million, or 19%.
District planning authorities received 688 thousand planning applications in 2004/05. This is 2 per cent more than in the previous year and the highest total since 1988/89.
Source:Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions www.dtlr.gov.uk