Raising standards to protect homeowners
Stabilisation in UK House Building Reaches Worst-hit Regions
Latest statistics from NHBC show a rise in construction activity for the Midlands, one of the industry's worst recession-hit areas, providing a further indication that the market may be turning.
Applications to build new homes for the three months ending July 2009 reveal that NHBC received 1,919 applications in the West Midlands, an 8 per cent increase on last year's figure (1,777), and 2,104 in the East Midlands, a rise of 12 per cent on last year (1,871).
The statistics also indicate further stabilisation across the market generally, with the fifth successive rolling quarter-on-quarter rise in applications to start new homes.
23,661 applications were received by NHBC to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors in the UK during the three months May to July - a 9.4 per cent increase on the previous rolling quarter April to June 2009 (21,637).
Yet there is still significant fluctuation regionally, with Merseyside 56 per cent down on the same period last year, and Greater London 46 per cent lower.
Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, said: "Our latest figures point to increased house building activity in some of the worst-hit parts of the UK. Other areas, such as North East England, still have some way to go but the overall picture certainly supports the suggestion that things are beginning to improve for the industry."
NHBC statistics for the three months to the end of July 2009 also show:
- Of the 23,661 applications to start new homes in the combined private and public sectors in the UK during the three months to the end of July, 15,036 were related to private sector activity - 16 per cent lower than the same three-month period a year ago (17,835).
- Public sector figures for the three months to the end of July totalled 8,625 - also 16 per cent lower than the same period a year ago (10,251).
- New build completions in the combined private and public sectors in the UK totalled 33,743 in the three months to the end of July 2009 - 21 per cent lower than the same period a year ago (42,875).
- The average number of daily sales of new homes in the UK recorded by NHBC from May to July 2009 was 343 - 28 per cent lower than the same period a year ago (477).
NHBC publishes a quarterly booklet of its new house-building statistics - to subscribe visit www.nhbc.co.uk
Ends
Note to editors:
(i) Full regional breakdown of new homes registered May to July 2009 by region / country:
Region |
May to July 2009 |
May to July 2008 |
Percentage Increase / (-) Decrease |
England - Regions |
|
|
|
North East |
717 |
946 |
-24% |
North West |
1,298 |
1,345 |
-3% |
Merseyside |
176 |
403 |
-56% |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
1,258 |
1,751 |
-28% |
West Midlands |
1,919 |
1,777 |
8% |
East Midlands |
2,104 |
1,871 |
12% |
Eastern |
3,065 |
3,089 |
-1% |
South West |
2,952 |
3,167 |
-7% |
Greater London |
2,495 |
4,634 |
-46% |
South East |
4,376 |
4,923 |
-11% |
Totals for England |
20,360 |
23,906 |
-15% |
Scotland - Councils |
1,677 |
2,544 |
-34% |
Wales - Unitary Authorities |
571 |
792 |
-28% |
Northern Ireland - Counties |
1,041 |
763 |
36% |
Isle of Man |
12 |
81 |
-85% |
Totals for UK |
23,661 |
28,086 |
-16% |
NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. It was established more than 73 years ago as a non-profit distributing company. NHBC's primary purpose is to help raise standards to protect homeowners. NHBC's ten-year 'Buildmark' warranty covers more than 80% of new homes built in the UK and currently protects approximately 1.6 million homes.
News Date: 28/08/09