In Scotland the average anticipated selling price of new homes (started by NHBC registered builders) during the second quarter of 2006 was £188,000, a four percent increase on quarter two of 2005 (£181,000). Based on actual selling prices, the proportion of new homes priced at over £150,000 went up to 63 per cent, an increase on the same period in 2005 (60 per cent).

NHBC's first time buyers' ability to buy index increased by four points during the quarter to 69 (the figure for quarter one 2006 was 65). The index is based on a formula which takes into account the average cost of homes bought by first time buyers, average income and mortgage interest rates (from the Nationwide Building Society). The higher the index, the greater the ability to buy.

UK-wide figures (including the Isle of Man) show a total of 49,482 applications to start new homes during the second quarter of 2006, showing a four per cent increase on the same period in 2005 (47,369). Of that total, 42,535 relate to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing an eight per cent increase on the same quarter of 2005 (39,447). Housing association starts totalled 6,947, a decrease of 12 per cent on quarter two of 2005 (7,922).

NHBC UK figures (including the Isle of Man) show there were 49,329 new build completions during the second quarter of 2006, showing a three per cent increase on the same quarter last year (48,004).

The average number of daily sales of new homes in the UK for quarter two 2006 was 668, an increase of 23 per cent on the same period in 2005 (544).

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Q2 2006 Regional Figures

Note to editors:

• NHBC statistics are based almost exclusively on information relating to its 19,000 (approx.) registered house builders who construct more than 80% of the new homes built in the UK. As such they represent a unique source of detailed, up-to-date information on new home construction and the house building industry.