New statistics from consultancy firm Arcadis have revealed that London is the most expensive city in the world to build new real estate. Unsurprisingly, the rise in costs post pandemic and a hike in inflation have been major contributing factors. It is not just London to have made the list, with the UK and Ireland having nine entries in the top 100 most expensive global cities: Bristol, Dublin and Manchester featuring in the top 15. 

Positively, these statistics are not deterring planning applications being made in the capital or anywhere else in England for that matter. Government statistics show that London Boroughs have received more planning applications than any other city in England (with 17,200)  falling only behind the south-east (21,200) in terms of regional applications. 

It may take some time for costs to reduce and the affects of the pandemic to dwindle, so it will be interesting to see the correlation with planning applications in the long term..