The number of UK public sector home completions fell by 5 per cent between March and May this year, compared with the equivalent period last year.
According to Inside Housing:
Monthly figures from the National House Building Council (NHBC) show a decline from 10,212 in the same period last year to 9,745 this year (see table). The fall contrasts with a 6 per cent rise in private sector completions, which rose from 26,469 in the period in 2013 to 28,166 this year. This equates to a 3 per cent rise across all tenures.
The fall in public sector completions was starkest in the north west, where the 483 homes developed by councils and housing associations in March to May this year was almost half that of the 920 in the period in 2013. The drop was the largest in the UK. The West Midlands, eastern region, south west, Scotland and Northern Ireland also posted falls.
However, output more than doubled in Yorkshire and the Humber, where 676 homes were completed compared with 305 last year, while Wales had 231 completions compared with just 48 last year.
Mike Quinton, chief executive of the NHBC, said: ‘Overall we are seeing steady growth on last year’s exceptional figures.’
Public sector housing completions
| Region | March to May 2014 | March to May 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| North east | 430 | 371 |
| North west (including Merseyside) | 483 | 920 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 676 | 305 |
| West Midlands | 794 | 1,224 |
| East Midlands | 745 | 711 |
| Eastern | 840 | 1,147 |
| South west | 929 | 1,059 |
| Greater London | 3,107 | 3,113 |
| South east | 1,280 | 1,022 |
| Scotland – councils | 193 | 252 |
| Wales – unitary authorities | 231 | 48 |
| Northern Ireland – counties | 37 | 40 |
| Total | 9,745 | 10,212 |