Housebuilding falls short of government targets

The number of new build homes started and completed continues to fall below government targets, according to new figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).

Annual new build dwelling starts totalled 157,550 in the year to September 2019, a 7 per cent decrease compared to the year to September 2018.  During the same period, completions totaled 177,980,an increase of 9 per cent compared with last year.

On a quarterly basis, new build dwelling starts in England were estimated at 39,510 (seasonally adjusted) in the latest quarter,a 2 per cent increase compared to the previous 3 months and an 11 per cent increase on a year earlier.  Completions were estimated at 46,000 (seasonally adjusted), a 2 per cent increase from the previous quarter and 11 per cent higher than a year ago.

Private enterprise new build dwelling starts (seasonally adjusted) in the September quarter 2019 are up by 3 per cent on the previous quarter, and completions are up by 5 per cent.  Starts by housing associations are 4 per cent lower compared to the last quarter, and completions down by 14 per cent.

Clive Docwra, Managing Director of McBains, said: “The government has set a target of delivering a million homes in the next five years, yet today’s figures show that the construction industry is way off meeting those rates on current trends.

“Last month’s Queen’s Speech contained lots of detail on demand-side measures – such as first-time buyers being offered a discount on purchases – but nothing on the supply side.  The government needs to set out how it intends to boost housebuilding and increase the supply of new homes needed to tackle the housing crisis, such as freeing up more land to build and cutting red tape on planning.”

Joseph Daniels, founder of modular developer Project Etopia, may be of interest: “While completions are up significantly on an annual basis, the latest quarter of housing starts is down by some margin. This performance is also leaving Government housing targets in the dust, as the industry has shown itself unable to put the accelerator down to deliver the homes necessary. More policy ideas are needed.”