House building: October to December Quarter 2004
House building figures are also provided for the other UK countries.
Summary
* In England during the quarter to December 2004, there were 40,300 housing starts, up 13 per cent on the same period in 2003; 42,100 housing completions, level on the same period in 2003.
* During the twelve months to the end of December 2004, there were 175,300 houses started and 152,600 completed, up 10 per cent and 6 per cent on the previous 12 months.
* Most of this increased house building activity was in London, where there were 24,100 housing completions, up 31 per cent on the previous year. Outside London, the annual increase was 3 per cent.
* In the UK as a whole in 2003/04 there were 212,000 housing starts and 190,000 completions, up 8 per cent and 3 per cent respectively on 2002/03.
Recent trends in house building in England
There have been upward trends in housing starts and completions in England since 2002/03. At this time, starts and completions were running at about 37,000 and 34,000 per quarter. These rates have increased to 44,000 and 38,000 per quarter respectively up to the end of 2004.
Regional trends
North and Midlands
The North West, East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber have seen recent upward trends in starts. There is not yet a corresponding increase in completions. The North East has seen little long term change in the average quarterly starts or completions, though completions were up in the 12 months to December 2004.
East, South East, London South West
London, South East and East have seen upward trends since 2002/03. In the South East, starts and completions were running at around 6,400 and 5,600 per quarter in 2002/03. These rates have now risen to nearly 7,700 and 6,300 up to the quarter to December 2004.
London has seen large rises in starts and completions activity since mid 2003/04. Starts and completions per quarter have remained level in the South West.
