Number of new homes started in England falls by 8% compared with year earlier

The number of new build homes started in England fell by 8% during April to June when compared with the same period a year earlier, Government figures show.

An estimated 37,220 new homes were started in the latest quarter, which was a 2% decrease on the previous three months as well as an 8% fall compared with a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

However, the number of new build homes which were completed in the latest quarter was up by 11% on a year earlier.

Completions were estimated at 45,190 – which was also a 4% increase from the previous quarter.

Across the 12 months to June, 160,640 new homes were started – a 1% decrease compared with the year to June 2018.

During the same period, completions totalled 173,660 – an 8% increase compared with a year earlier.

The report said there have recently been relatively high rates of new build starts in local authorities stretching from west of the London commuter belt across the Midlands to East Anglia.

Areas with high rates of new build homes being started include Harborough, Eastleigh and South Derbyshire.

Within London the picture has been more mixed, with some of the biggest increases and decreases in new build starts in recent months being in the capital, the report said.

The number of new homes being started reached a peak in 2007 but later fell sharply during the financial downturn.

Since then, there have been periods of growth in new home starts as well as some levelling off.

The report said the number of new homes being started in the latest quarter was 117% above a trough reached in 2009 – but still 24% below a house building peak reached in 2007.

The number of completions in the latest quarter was 79% above a low point in 2013 and 7% below its 2007 peak.