Q4 2001 new house-building statistics Northern Ireland 14/02/06
House-building activity in Northern Ireland saw a decrease of one per cent during the fourth quarter of 2001 according to statistics released today by NHBC (National House-Building Council).
NHBC figures for Northern Ireland, including the Isle of Man, reveal that a total of 2,278 applications were made to start new homes during the quarter, a decrease of one per cent on the same period in 2000 (2,311). In Northern Ireland the average anticipated selling price of new homes (registered with NHBC) during the fourth quarter of 2001 was £99,000, a three per cent decrease on quarter four 2000 (£102,000). Based on actual selling prices, the proportion of homes sold for over £100,000 was 31 per cent, an increase on the same period last year (28 per cent). NHBC's first time buyers' ability to buy index increased by two points during the quarter to 108, a slight increase on the figure for quarter three 2001 (106). 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 show a total of 35,915 applications to start new homes during the quarter, a nine per cent increase on the same period in 2000 (32,853). Of that total, 32,847 relate to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), and show a nine per cent increase on 2000 (30,060). Housing association starts totalled 3,068 - an increase of 10 per cent on quarter four 2000 (2,790). NHBC UK figures show there were 37,158 new build completions during the fourth quarter of 2001, showing a decrease of four per cent on the same quarter last year (38,846). The figure for the average UK daily sales of new homes in the fourth quarter of 2001 is 527, an increase of four per cent on the same period a year ago (507). ends
