AUDIO NEWS: Planning permissions for new homes hits new low and diesel vans named major polluter

Planning permissions for new homes plummets to new low, diesel vans overtake black cabs as London's biggest NOx polluter and BSIF launches HVAS safety awareness campaign

Planning permissions for new homes have fallen to its lowest level since 2012 — that’s according to figures from the Home Builders Federation (HBF).

Planning permission was granted on less than 45,000 new homes in the second quarter. A drop of 17% on the same period last year.

HBF’s Housing Pipeline report claimed that 1,400 sites received planning between April and June, marking a 10^th successive quarter of decline.

HBF boss Neil Jefferson said the figures highlighted the “fragility of the housing pipeline” and a continuing “downward trajectory that shows little sign of changing soon”.

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Diesel vans have overtaken London’s fleet of black cabs as the biggest nitrogen oxides (NOx) polluter.

The report by the London Atmospheric Emissions Inventory claims that vans in the capital emitted 108 tonnes of nitrogen oxides in 2022.  

Black cabs emitted 78 tonnes during the same period.

Nitrogen oxides are linked with asthma attacks and reduced lung growth in children.

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The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) has kicked off a campaign to raise awareness around Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS).

Each year, more than 2 million people in the UK are at risk of developing the condition, due to prolonged use of vibrating tools.

The trade association has published a free guide that aims to explain the condition, advise which tools pose the greatest risk and suggest methods for controlling exposure.

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