New homes down 9% last year

NBC numbers indicate that 104,510 new homes were registered during 2012, compared to 114,930 in 2011.

This 9% fall mirrors the estimated 9% fall in overall construction output for 2012.

This decline in new housing was due to a fall in public sector registrations, which dropped from 36,680 in 2011, to 26,390 in 2012.

The level of private housebuilding in the UK was stable during 2012, with 78,120 new homes registered, compared to 78,250 in 2011.

However, there was a strong rise in the fourth quarter of 2012.

For the rolling quarter October – December 2012 the number of registrations was 24,567, a 17% increase on the same period of 2011 (21,060). Of these:

• Private sector registrations October-December 2012 increased by 14% (17,961), compared with the same period in 2011 (15,780)
• Public sector registrations October-December 2012 increased by 25% (6,606) when compared with the same period a year ago (5,280).

NHBC commercial director Richard Tamayo said: “In summary, 2012 was a challenging year for the housebuilding industry overall but ended on an encouraging note with Q4 figures 17% up on the same period for 2011.  With government-backed schemes such as NewBuy and Funding for Lending helping to increase mortgage availability, there are reasons to believe that 2013 may see the industry able to build on some of the positive momentum we saw towards the end of 2012, which does seem to be carrying over into January.

 “Nonetheless, with house-building volumes so far below the numbers desperately needed in the UK, this is clearly an issue that needs to remain at the heart of government policy.”

Full regional breakdown of total new homes registered October-December 2012 by region:

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