In England during the quarter to June 2004, there were 46,900 housing starts and 38,700 thousand completions; starts and completions were up 10 per cent on the same period in 2003.
During the twelve months to the end of June 2004 starts numbered 165,400 (up 7 per cent on the previous twelve month period) and completions totalled 146,800 (up 6 per cent).
London and the South East saw continuing upward trends. No new UK or Scottish data are available. Northern Ireland shows a big increase in starts in 2003/04 (up 13 per cent on 2002/03) but no change in completions.
Recent Trends in House building in England
The trends in recent years are for both starts and completions are upward .
Housing starts and completions in England during the twelve months to the end of June 2004 were up 7 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. In the quarter ending June 2004 both starts and completions were up 10 per cent on the same period in the previous year. The average quarterly rate (4 quarter moving average) of starts has increased from 35,400 in the quarter to June 2001 up to 41,300 in the quarter to June 2004. The average quarterly rate of completions has risen from 32,400 in the June 2001 quarter to 36,700 in June 2004.
Regional Trends
North and Midlands
Over the last three years, housebuilding starts have shown a generally upward trend in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands and the West Midlands. The trend in the North East is flat. Trends in completions are generally flat with a slight upward trend in Yorkshire and the Humber and considerable variation in the North West.
In the twelve months to the end of June 2004 compared with the previous twelve months, starts were up in all regions. Starts in the North East increased by 2 per cent, the North West 5 per cent, Yorkshire and the Humber 10 per cent, the West Midlands 8 per cent and the East Midlands 6 per cent. There were some rises in completions, particularly in the North East (13 per cent) and Yorkshire and the Humber (10 per cent).
East, South East, London South West
Both starts and completions show upward trends in the East, London and the South East, although there appears to be some flattening of the trend in the East. In London, the upward trend in completions has been very strong over the last three quarters. Trends are flat in the South West. Comparing the twelve month period to the end of June 2004 with the previous twelve month period, starts were up in the East 2 per cent, in London 6 per cent, the South East 11 per cent and the South West 5 per cent. On the same basis, completions rose in London 35 per cent and the South East 10 per cent but fell slightly in the East 1 per cent and the South West 4 per cent.
House building around the UK
There have been no new data for the UK, Scotland or Wales.
House building starts in Northern Ireland were 13,800 in 2003/04, up 13 per cent on the previous financial year. Completions, at 14,600 were unchanged from the previous year.
