Number of new homes completed falls 2%

Updated

The number of new homes completed in England has fallen for the first time in a year-and-a-half.

A total of 34,940 properties were finished between July and September, a drop of 2% on the total for April to June, according to figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

By far the biggest contributor to the fall was a 14% decrease in the number of new homes completed by housing associations - the largest drop of its kind for almost two years.

The figures cover all new properties finished by private builders, housing associations and local authorities.

A DCLG spokesman acknowledged that housing association completions were down in the short term, but emphasised they were higher than a year ago.

He added: "Over the past financial year there has been a 25% increase in the number of homes delivered after the Government gave developers the tools they need to get building.

"Today's figures also show we are committed to delivering an additional 275,000 affordable homes."

Other statistics from the DCLG show the number of new homes started in the 12 months to September 2015 is 1% lower than the previous year.

Shelter chief executive Campbell Robb claimed the findings show the Government will struggle to reach its target of building one million new homes by 2020.

"These figures might be hailed as a success story but the reality is we're still only building half the homes we need," he said.

"And when the number of new homes started in the last year has actually decreased slightly, it is hard to see how the Government will deliver on its promise of a million new homes by 2020."

George Lucas Submits Plan To Build Affordable Housing Complex
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