Raising standards to protect homeowners
Rise in new home output in Northern Ireland
NHBC's latest new house-building statistics show that the number of applications from builders to start new homes in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man increased in the three months to the end of June 2009.
910 applications were received by NHBC to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors during the three months to the end of June 2009 - 19% higher compared to the previous rolling quarter March to May 2009 (762) and 18% per cent higher than February to April this year (773).
Although NHBC figures show that house-building activity in Northern Ireland was still much lower during the three months to the end of June, with an 18% reduction in the number of applications compared to the same three month period a year ago (1,113), applications have steadily increased from their lowest point in rolling quarter November 2008 to January 2009 when just 401 were received.
David Little, NHBC Director for Northern Ireland, said: "Our latest figures point to a slight stabilisation in house-building production in Northern Ireland and suggest we have may have passed the lowest point in house-building production in the current cycle.
"However, while the signs are encouraging in the short-term, house-building output is still greatly reduced compared to previous years. Improving liquidity in the mortgage market and, in particular, the relaxation of strict lending terms that are currently applied to many would-be buyers, is a key step to attracting buyers back into the market and ensuring a sustainable recovery."
NHBC statistics for Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man for the three months to the end of June 2009 also revealed:
- Of the 910 applications to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors during the three months to the end of June, 803 were related to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations) - 26% lower than the same three-month period a year ago (1,088).
- New build completions in the combined private and public sectors in Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man totalled 1,355 in the three months to the end of June 2009 - 24% lower than the same period a year ago (1,792).
NHBC publishes a quarterly booklet of its new house-building statistics - to subscribe visit www.nhbc.co.uk
Ends
Note to editors:
(i) Full breakdown of new homes registered in Northern Ireland and Isle of Man by county from April to June 2009:
County |
April to June 2009 |
April to June 2008 |
Percentage Increase / (-) Decrease |
Antrim |
262 |
286 |
-8% |
Armagh |
95 |
94 |
1% |
Down |
300 |
419 |
-28% |
Fermanagh |
72 |
32 |
125% |
Londonderry |
84 |
162 |
-48% |
Tyrone |
62 |
57 |
9% |
Isle of Man |
35 |
63 |
-44% |
Total for Northern Ireland and Isle of Man |
910 |
1,113 |
-18% |
News Date: 24/07/09