This represents a 13% increase on the previous year and an increase of more than three quarters since 2009.
Housebuilding in England reached a nine year high of nearly 165,000 in the year to June 2017, government figures show.
This represents a 13% increase on the previous year and an increase of more than three quarters from the low point in 2009.
Alok Sharma, housing and planning minister, said: “Building more homes is an absolute priority for this government.
“Today’s figures are proof that we are getting Britain building again, with new housing starts reaching record levels since 2009.
“It’s vital we maintain this momentum to deliver more quality homes in the places that people want to live.
“Our housing white paper set out an ambitious package of long-term reforms to do just that.”
Gloucestershire, South Derbyshire and South Norfolk saw the most new homes produced.
Despite stronger results Murray Smith, managing director of property sales and development consultancy SiteSales Property Group, raised concerns about housebuilding.
He said: “The statistics reflect what we knew, in that completion on projects commenced pre-Brexit would be healthy, while the post-vote hiatus in the industry and an uncertain market has withheld starts in recent quarters.
“Private activity sees no real change or surprises, it is in the housing association sector (with 19% fewer starts) where concern should lie as it reflects continuing caution.
“On the face of it, this may look like caution per se but in fact it is caution with a combination of planning inertia and construction cost uncertainty.
“Market activity this autumn will answer a lot of questions and, in turn, impact decisions in regard to the market’s future growth potential.”
