The number of new homes reaching the market has fallen by more than 32,120 across England annually, according to StripeHomes.
The number of new homes reaching the market has fallen by 32,120 across England annually, according to StripeHomes.
The figures show that 145,430 new homes were completed across England over the past 12 months, 32,120 less than the 177,550 delivered previously.
All regions across the UK recorded a decline in the number of new homes delivered year-on-year.
The South East saw the greatest decline, down 7,170 new homes to 26,030.
The South West saw the second largest fall in the number of new homes delivered, having dropped by over 5,000 to 15,440.
In contrast, Yorkshire and Humberside saw the smallest reduction with 2,360 fewer new homes delivered annually.
As a result, the total number of new properties delivered in Yorkshire and Humberside totalled 12,620.
James Forrester, managing director of StripeHomes, said: “Like every area of life, the pandemic has posed problems for housebuilders and the first two quarters of 2020 will have been particularly problematic.
“While the government has done as much as possible to keep both the property market and the construction sector open for business, it’s perhaps understandable that housing delivery has stuttered when compared to the previous year.
“However, there are many that believe the big housebuilders have used the pandemic as a smokescreen, to detract from their usual practices of land banking in order to increase profits.
“Having drip-fed stock to the market for many years now, there’s no reason to believe this practice would have changed in the last year and the issues that have faced the sector provide them with the perfect excuse to continue.
“It’s disappointing to see such titanic, well-financed entities sit on their hands in this respect. We’ve seen a whole host of much smaller enterprises over the last year, us included, who have gone above and beyond to meet their obligations and to deliver on their promises.
“They’ve pivoted with multiple periods of lockdown restrictions and evolved operationally to ensure safe work practices, all while working with far smaller cash pots than their much larger counterparts.
“It’s this drive and this mentality that has kept stock reaching the market and, you could argue the only reason big housebuilders have brought any stock to the market at all is to ride the house price wave, brought about by the stamp duty holiday.”
