BBC Verify - a team of journalists specializing in fact-checking, video verification, countering disinformation, data analysis, and explaining complex stories - have released new analysis of how far away local councils are from meeting the new government house building targets.

The data for North Hertfordshire reveals that there would need to be more than a doubling of new homes added on average since 2021 to reach the goal of building 1.5 million new homes in England over five years.

403 homes were added per year on average in North Hertfordshire since 2021.

426 new homes were added in the year to March 2024, 21 fewer than the year before.

1,018 new homes a year are required in North Hertfordshire to meet government targets.

The analysis also revealed that 67% of planning applications decided by North Hertfordshire District Council were granted in the year ending June 2024 - a figure 5% below the national average of 71% across England overall.

Cllr Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council with responsibility for Planning, told Hitchin Nub News that "while we obviously keep an eye on the government's changing housing targets, we are able to rely on our robust Local Plan which will meet our needs for housing in the future".

"As approved by the Planning Inspector, our Local Plan has a stepped trajectory - so rather than meeting a set number of homes per year, our needs (and targets) will be met as and when our strategic housing allocations are approved and housing sites built."  

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