There were 36,566 new homes registered ahead of building works in Q1 2016, says that NHBC, which is 9% down on Q1 2015 when 40,144 new homes were registered.
Registrations in the private sector were down 7% at 28,398, while the public and affordable sector was down 15% with 8,168 new homes registered.
However for the financial year 2015/16, registrations remained in line with the previous year with 152,329 new home registrations, marginally ahead of the 152,262 registered in 2014/15.
There was also a 10% increase in the number of new home completions for the financial year up to the end of March, compared to 2014/15, with 137,396 completions in total. This increase mirrors the strong growth seen in registrations in recent years, resulting in these new homes being completed over the first few months of 2016.
As the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK, NHBC's registration statistics are a lead indicator of UK house-building activity.
Commenting on the figures, NHBC chief executive Mike Quinton said: “Our latest statistics show that the industry is consolidating on the strong growth in registrations seen in recent years. Registrations are now around 80% higher than the depths of the financial crisis in 2008/09, driven by increased activity from private sector housebuilders.
“Because of the increase in registrations we are now also seeing the resulting completions come through, as reflected in the 10% rise in the number of new homes completed in the financial year.”
Regional breakdown of new homes registered for Q1 2016 and financial year completions
|
Country/ Region |
Q1 2016 |
Q1 2015 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
2014/15 |
|
England - Regions |
Regs |
Regs |
Regs |
Regs |
Completions |
Completions |
|
North East |
1,131 |
1,180 |
5,775 |
5,213 |
5,059 |
5,178 |
|
North West |
3,732 |
3,198 |
14,086 |
11,775 |
12,262 |
11,290 |
|
Yorkshire & the Humber |
1,889 |
2,223 |
7,299 |
9,339 |
7,588 |
7,281 |
|
West Midlands |
3,490 |
3,832 |
13,163 |
13,166 |
11,922 |
10,708 |
|
East Midlands |
3,114 |
3,572 |
12,756 |
12,665 |
11,829 |
10,725 |
|
Eastern |
3,582 |
4,317 |
16,134 |
15,444 |
13,486 |
13,352 |
|
South West |
4,057 |
4,422 |
15,356 |
15,564 |
13,683 |
13,117 |
|
Greater London |
4,751 |
5,620 |
25,122 |
26,237 |
22,207 |
17,972 |
|
South East |
6,117 |
6,670 |
22,443 |
23,550 |
20,653 |
17,822 |
|
Totals for England |
31,863 |
35,034 |
132,134 |
132,953 |
118,579 |
107,455 |
|
Scotland - Councils |
2,910 |
3,187 |
12,463 |
11,548 |
11,145 |
10,918 |
|
Wales - Unitary Authorities |
1,142 |
1,146 |
4,635 |
5,045 |
4,661 |
4,246 |
|
Northern Ireland - Counties |
651 |
777 |
3,097 |
2,716 |
2,831 |
2,598 |
|
Totals for UK |
36,566 |
40,144 |
152,329 |
152,262 |
137,396 |
125,217 |
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