UK New House Building Statistics - May 2005 17/06/05

Statistics released today by NHBC reveal that the number of UK applications to build new homes in May 2005 increased when compared with figures for May last year.

In May 2005 15,979 applications were made to start new homes in the UK in the combined public and private sectors, showing a nine per cent increase on the same month in 2004 (14,632).  Private sector starts for the month were 13,303, showing a six per cent increase on May 2004 (12,604). There were 2,676 UK housing association applications, showing a 32 per cent increase on May of the previous year (2,028).

Imtiaz Farookhi, Chief Executive of NHBC, says: "NHBC statistics show that the number of housing association and private registrations were strong in May.  In addition, the number of new build completions for the combined public and private sectors showed an eight per cent increase on the same month last year."

Additional information from NHBC reveals that an average of 561 new homes were sold each day during May 2005, a 3 per cent decrease on the same month last year (579).

Note to editors:

NHBC statistics are based almost exclusively on information relating to its 19,000 (approx.) registered house builders who construct around 85% 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.