Property News Item: 00137

18th May 2006

House building: January to March quarter 2006

Source: http://www.communities.gov.uk

The Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG) Statistical Release

This statistical release presents figures on new house building starts and completions in England and its regions up to the quarter ending March 2006. House building figures are also provided for the other UK countries.

Summary

In England during the quarter to March 2006 there were:

* 48,200 housing starts, up 19 per cent on the same period in 2005.
* 37,600 housing completions, up 12 per cent on the same period in 2005.

During 2005/06 in England there were:

* 184,700 starts, up 6 per cent on the figure for 2004/05
* 163,300 completions, up 5 per cent on the figure for 2004/05
* Comparing 2005/06 with 2004/05, all regions saw increases in completions except London where they fell back from the high level in 2004/05.

Recent trends in house building in England

Trends in housing starts showed an upturn in latest quarter to March 2006 after remaining level since the quarter to June 2004. Completions have continued an upward trend.

Regional Trends

North and Midlands

Starts continued recent level trends in the North and Midland regions with the exception of North West where the upward trend continued. Trends in completions are more varied, with strong increases continuing in the North West. Yorkshire and the Humber also saw a sharp upturn following a recent fall. Completions in the East Midlands, West Midlands and the North East have levelled in the quarter to the end of March 2006 after steady increases in previous quarters.

London, South East, East and South West

Starts in London showed an upturn in the quarter to March 2006 following the level trend since December 2005. The South East saw increases in starts over the last two quarters and the East continued the upward trend. There was also a sharp increase in starts in the South West in the most recent quarter

Completions in the South East, East and South West have continued upward trends. Completions in London in the quarter to March 2006 have steadied following the fall from the relatively high levels in 2004/05.