More than 15,000 new homes registered to be built in October, reports NHBC

27 November 2019

two people on site in site safety clothing and hard hats inspecting plans

Builders and developers across the UK registered a total of 15,343 new homes during October according to NHBC’s latest statistics, a year-on-year increase of 6% (October 2018: 14,494).

10,688 were registered in the private sector (10,941 in October 2018) and 4,655 in the affordable and rental sector (3,553 in October 2018). The figure makes October the second busiest registration month of 2019 to date.

For the rolling quarter, between August and October, 40,472 new homes were registered compared to 42,198 in the same period in 2018 – a decrease of 4%. Within this there was a 12% fall in the private sector, with the affordable and rental sector (which includes shared ownership and homes built for private, social or affordable rent) growing by 22%.

Overall during this period there was growth in four out of the 12 UK regions, including the West Midlands (+56%), London (+10%) and Yorkshire and Humberside (+6%).

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK and its registration statistics are a lead indicator for the new homes market.

Commenting on the latest figures, NHBC Chief Executive Steve Wood said: “Following several months of slowdown as a result of Brexit uncertainties, it is promising to see encouraging numbers for October.

“NHBC will continue working with the industry to maintain and improve the quality of new homes for the people who live in them.”

NHBC UK statistics show that:

  • During Aug ’19 – Oct ’19 the number of NHBC new home registrations was 40,472 compared to 42,198 a year ago
  • 28,182 were registered in the private sector, compared to 32,160 in the previous year
  • 12,290 were registered in the affordable and rental sector, compared to 10,038 in the previous year.

Full regional breakdown of total new homes registered during this period:

NHBC – UK Registrations by Region

 

 

England – Regions

Aug 19 – Oct 19

Aug 18 – Oct 18

North East

1,913

2,371

North West & Merseyside

3,327

4,514

Yorkshire & Humberside

2,829

2,680

West Midlands

5,202

3,325

East Midlands

3,177

3,676

Eastern

4,334

4,313

South West

2,954

4,034/strong>

London

4,372

3,968

South East

7,332

7,033

Total England

35,440

35,914

Scotland

2,746

3,470

Wales

1,237

1,603

Northern Ireland & Isle of Man

1,049

1,211

Total UK

40,472

42,198

Registrations refer to the process of a builder registering a new plot/home to be built in the coming months or weeks, to be covered by NHBC’s ten-year Buildmark warranty. Completions refer to when a new home is completed as indicated by NHBC inspectors.

Changes can occur between figures published at different times owing to changes in policies and cancellations.

NHBC is the leading warranty and insurance provider for new homes in the UK. NHBC’s ten-year Buildmark warranty covers around 80 per cent of new homes built in the UK, having covered nearly eight million homes since it began and currently protecting around 1.5 million homes. NHBC is a non-profit distributing organisation with no shareholders.