Overall housing starts are down

Overall housing starts in England have fallen by nearly 20 per cent compared to a year ago, according to the latest (June) quarterly results published by Communities and Local Government and compiled by the Government's statistical service.

Private enterprise housing starts (non-seasonally adjusted) were 27 per cent lower than the June quarter 2007. However, in contrast, housing starts by Registered Social Landlords (again non-seasonally adjusted) rose 56 per cent over the same period. This sector is seeing the highest quarterly level of starts for eleven years, bucking the downward trend.

These latest figures also indicated that housing starts figures for England over the last year - to June 2008 - have continued to decline.

They totalled 147,500 in the 12 months to June 2008, down by 12 per cent compared with the same period a year ago and almost 20 per cent below their 2005/06 peak.

Housing completions in England fell by nine per cent from the previous quarter to an estimated 36,600 (seasonally adjusted) in the June quarter 2008.

Compared with the June quarter 2007, completions were down by 13 per cent. Quarterly completions exceeded starts for the third quarter in a row.

Annual housing completions in England totalled 161,100 in the 12 months to June 2008, down by four per cent compared to the previous year. In the 12 months to June 2008, the number of housing starts was the highest in the South East and lowest in the North East, accounting for 20 per cent and five per cent respectively of starts in England. The pattern of completions across the regions is very similar to that of starts. The fall in starts was especially pronounced in the following regions: the North West, South East, East of England and Yorkshire and the Humber.

Read the Communities and Local Government statistics release.

Roger Milne

28 August 2008