Stella Rooflight highlights the growing impact of the UK’s planning delays on domestic manufacturing. A Freedom of Information request to Cornwall Council revealed a single residential application took 1,114 days, over three years, to gain approval. This extreme case reflects a wider problem, with many councils averaging 40–50 weeks for major applications, far exceeding statutory targets of 8–13 weeks.
For Stella Rooflight, these delays directly affect projects that rely on bespoke UK-made rooflights. Their products, crafted from 316L stainless steel and sustainably sourced hardwood, are designed to meet the stringent requirements of heritage and conservation projects. However, extended planning timelines often force clients to replace these high-quality solutions with imported plastic or aluminium alternatives that lack the durability, appearance, and compliance of Stella Rooflight’s products.
Protracted approvals also increase costs, driving value engineering and eroding specification quality. The substitution of British-made rooflights not only compromises project outcomes but also threatens jobs, skills, and investment in domestic manufacturing.
Stella Rooflight emphasizes that supporting British products safeguards longevity, sustainability, and heritage compliance. Without urgent reform to streamline planning approvals, the industry risks replacing precision-engineered, durable solutions with cheaper, lower-quality alternatives, undermining both building integrity and the UK manufacturing sector. 
Source: Stella Rooflight with additional information added by Glass Balkan
