The Local Government Association (LGA) study shows a record 475,647 properties are waiting to be developed in England.
In 2012/13, the total of unimplemented planning permissions was 381,390 and in 2013/14 it was 443,265.
According to the LGA, the data showcases the need for councils to be able to invest in building more homes and also for the skills shorts affecting the construction industry to be addressed.
In addition, council leaders want additional powers to charge developers for every unbuilt development from from the point the original planning permission expires.
Key features of the study include:
• It now takes 32 months, on average, from sites receiving planning permission to building work being completed – 12 months longer than in 2007/8.
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• The number of planning applications being granted planning permission in 2014/15 was 212,468 - up from 187,605 in 2007/08 and higher than all previous years.
• Councils still approve nine in every ten applications.
• 10,000 fewer fewer construction qualifications being awarded by colleges, apprenticeships and universities.
• 58% fewer completed construction apprenticeships last year than in 2009.
LGA Housing spokesman, Cllr Peter Box, said: "These figures conclusively prove that the planning system is not a barrier to house building. In fact the opposite is true, councils are approving almost half a million more houses than are being built, and this gap is increasing.
"While private developers have a key role in solving our chronic housing shortage, they cannot build the 230,000 needed each year on their own. To tackle the new homes backlog and to get Britain building again, councils must have the power to invest in building new homes and to force developers to build homes more quickly.
"Skills is the greatest barrier to building, not planning. If we are to see the homes desperately needed across the country built and jobs and apprenticeships created, councils must be given a leading role to tackle our growing construction skills shortage, which the industry says is one of the greatest barriers to building."
(LM)
