Housing Registrations Less Buoyant 28/03/08

Statistics released by NHBC reveal that the number of applications to start new homes in the UK decreased by 22 percent year-on-year during the three-month period from December 2007 to February 2008.

NHBC statistics show that there were 35,780 applications to start new homes in the three months from December 2007 to February 2008 - a 22 percent decrease on the same three month period a year ago (45,613). Of that total, 28,580 related to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing a 24 per cent decrease on the same period in 2007 (37,529).

Housing association completions also decreased in the three months to the end of February this year with applications totalling 7,200 - a decrease of 11 per cent on the same period a year ago (8,084).

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC Chief Executive, says: "NHBC figures show that the number of registrations by house builders has fallen in the three months to the end of February. The number of completions also fell, although less sharply, with our statistics showing a year-on-year decline of four per cent."

Additional figures for the three months from December 2007 to February 2008 show that the average number of new homes sold each day in the UK was 512, a decrease of 29 per cent on the same period a year ago (724).

Ends

Note to editors:

· FOR A BREAKDOWN OF NEW HOMES REGISTERED BY REGION / COUNTRY PLEASE E-MAIL mblamey@nhbc.co.uk

· NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. It was established more than 70 years ago as a non-profit distributing company. NHBC's primary purpose is to help raise standards in the new house-building industry and provide consumer protection for new house buyers. NHBC's ten year 'Buildmark' warranty covers more than 80% of homes being built in the UK and has protected almost 7 million homes.

· NHBC statistics are based almost exclusively on information relating to its 20,000 plus 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.