Q4 2005 new house building statistics Northern Ireland 14/02/06

House-building activity in Northern Ireland increased during the fourth quarter of 2005 according to statistics released today by NHBC. NHBC figures for Northern Ireland, reveal that a total of 2,646 applications were made to start new homes during the quarter, showing a nine per cent increase on the same period in 2004 (2,436).

In Northern Ireland the average anticipated selling price of new homes (registered with NHBC) during the fourth quarter of 2005 was £142,000, a 15 per cent increase on the fourth quarter of 2004 (£124,000). Based on actual selling prices, the proportion of homes sold for over £150,000 was 29 per cent, an increase on the same period last year (22 per cent).

Tom Kirk, NHBC Director for Northern Ireland, says: "There was an encouraging amount of house building activity in Northern Ireland during the last quarter. Furthermore the total number of applications to start new homes in Northern Ireland during 2005 remained relatively stable when compared to the previous year. Last year there were 10,345 applications to start new homes in Northern Ireland, a two per cent decrease on the total number of applications for 2004. (10,555)."

UK-wide figures (including the Isle of Man) show a total of 40,352 applications to start new homes during the fourth quarter of 2005, showing a four per cent decrease on the same period in 2004 (41,824). Of that total, 33,454 relate to private sector activity (i.e. excluding housing associations), showing a 10 per cent decrease on the same quarter of 2004 (37,318). Housing association starts totalled 6,898 - an increase of 53 per cent on quarter four of 2004 (4,506).

NHBC UK figures (including the Isle of Man) show there were 47,235 new build completions during quarter four of 2005, showing a three per cent decrease on the same quarter last year (48,914).

The average number of daily sales of new homes in the UK for quarter four 2005 was 540, an increase of three per cent on the same period in 2004 (525).

Quarter 4 2005 Regional Figures

Note to editors:

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