Number of new build homes started dips by 11%

The number of new build homes started across England fell by 11% in July to September 2019 compared with the same period a year earlier, Government figures show.

Some 39,510 new builds were started during the quarter, down from 44,480 between July and September 2018.

But the latest total was up 2% compared with the previous three months. Between April and June last year 38,860 new build homes were started, according to figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The figures also showed that 46,000 new build homes were completed between July and September last year – 11% higher than the same period in 2018.

New home completions were also up by 2% compared with the previous quarter.

The number of new house builds was strongly affected by the economic downturn from the start of 2008, when there was a period of rapid decline to a trough in 2009.

From 2013 to 2018, starts and completions grew again gradually.

But the report said that more recently, while completions have continued to grow, there has been a slowdown in starts.

It added that there are 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 relatively high rates of completion include Dorset and south Derbyshire, the report said.