House building in England increased during Q4 2011

Friday 17th February 2012

In the final three months of 2011, house building in England was up 6% compared with the three months to September 2011, according to new data from Communities and Local Government.

Seasonally adjusted house building starts stood at 25,240 in the December quarter 2011. The increase is 74% above the trough in the March quarter 2009, but 48% below the December quarter 2005 peak.

Housing completions in England (seasonally adjusted) also increased this quarter, up 2% from 26,180 in September quarter 2011 to 26,730 in the December quarter 2011.

Starts were up by 3% in the East region and by 1% in the North West and London regions in the 12 months to December 2011 compared with the 12 months to December 2010. In all other regions starts declined over this period. Yorkshire and the Humber saw the largest fall at minus 17%.

In the 12-month period ending December 2011, the number of housing starts was highest in the South East (18,430) and lowest in the North East (3,930), accounting for 19% and 4% respectively of starts in England.

Completions increased in all regions except the North West. The largest increase was in the North East where completions rose by 13% in the 12 months to September 2011 relative to the previous 12-month period.

London saw an increase of 11% and Yorkshire and the Humber had 8% more completions than the previous year. In the North West annual completions fell by 9%.

Have your say on this story using the comment section below