The number of housing starts and completions continued to rise last year hittingthe highest level since 2008, governmentfigures show.
More than 143,500 new build homes were started up to December 2015 – a rise of 23% on the same quarter a year earlier and up 91% when compared to the low point of the year up to June 2009.
The House building: December quarter 2015 also showed that the number of new build homes completed were up 21% on the previous year.
It means both starts and completions for new build homes are at their highest level since 2008 with more than 700,000 new build homes started since April 2010.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: "Aspiring homeowners should get the help they need to turn their dream into a reality – key to that is building the homes our country needs.
"Today’s figures show how our reforms to the planning system are delivering the permissions needed and schemes like Help to Buy have given builders the confidence to invest and build, with starts and completions now at their highest since 2008.
"But we’re determined to do even more, and fulfil our ambition to deliver 1 million new homes by 2021."
And Housing Minister Brandon Lewis added: "We’ve got the country building again with starts nearly double the low point of 2009 and along with completions hitting a seven year high.
"However we’re not complacent. That’s why we’ve set out the most ambitious housing vision for more than a generation, doubling the housing budget so we can meet our ambition of delivering a million new homes."
Meanwhile, figures from the Home Builders Federation also published today show a 12% rise in planning permissions on the same quarter last year.
