New Government data reveals that over 170,000 new homes were built for the year ending June 2019.
Image: Adobestock/Ceebeestock
Figures taken from the House building: new build dwellings statistics show that over 170,000 new homes were completed by developers in the year ending June 2019.
This represents an 8% increase compared with the previous year and the highest number built over the same period in the last 11 years.
Figures for ‘starts’ fell slightly year on year. There were 160,640 new build dwellings started in the year to June 2019, a 1% decrease compared to the year to June 2018.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said: “As Housing Secretary, it’s my mission to get Britain building. The data released today is hugely welcome, with the number of new homes built reaching an 11-year high. We are moving in the right direction, but there is still much more to do if we are going to deliver the numbers needed by communities up and down the country.”
The Housing Secretary has recently announced measures designed to planning faster and simpler. Amongst them are new permitted development rights, which would allow the demolition and rebuild of old commercial buildings.
Housing Secretary announces planning reforms
Commenting on the announcement, Paresh Raja, CEO, Market Financial Solutions said: “Things are heading in the right direction, but too slowly. I think there is actually a bigger issue at play, too; according to data from Land Registry, on average new-builds costs 29% more than existing properties. If we are looking to solve the housing crisis by building more homes, then we must ensure new-builds are more affordable.”
“But that’s not all. I strongly believe the government must become more creative in its attempt to improve housing supply. We must find ways to convert or renovate derelict properties, such as run-down houses and empty commercial premises, to get them back onto the market, while also looking at ways to convert and build-on existing properties.”
Comprehensive housing delivery statistics (net additional dwellings) will be updated in mid-November. Last year 220,000 new homes were delivered by the English housing market.
For more detail on the accelerated planning green paper, which will be published in November, click here.
