New Home Starts Up On Last Year

Statistics released by NHBC, the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes, have shown that the number of new homes started so far this year has increased slightly when compared to last year.

Despite a fall in the number of new home starts during the three months to the end of July, NHBC statistics show that the overall number of new homes started so far this year has increased. A total of 122,142 new homes were started in the seven months to the end of July 2007 - a two per cent increase on the same period a year ago (119,238). Of that total, 98,857 related to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing a three per cent decrease on the same period in 2006 (102,348).


Housing Association volumes have also increased substantially this year in comparison to last year. NHBC statistics show that there were 23,285 Housing Association starts in the seven months to the end of July, an increase of 38 per cent on the same period a year ago (16,890).

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, said: "Figures for the three months to the end of July this year reveal a decrease in house-building activity, particularly in the private sector where starts show a six per cent drop on last year's figure. However, boosted by an increase in Housing Association starts, our year-to-date figures show that the number of new home starts are still ahead of last year."

(CL/SP)