London annual new home registrations slump a third

The number of UK new homes registered by NHBC fell by 2% to 151,687 last year despite Government efforts to stimulate house building.

London dragged the entire UK down as registered new homes slumped by a third to just over 25,000 as developers eased back on schemes in the face of falling demand for luxury flats.

Excluding the capital, UK registrations increased 4% compared with 2015.

The still disappointing figures come as Government prepares to set out fresh plans to galvanise the industry with a Housing White Paper next week .

Private sector registrations in 2016 decreased by 2% 115,689, while affordable new homes fell 5%  to 35,998.

NHBC housing registrations
Country/Region	2016	2015	% change
North East	6,173	5,816	6%
North West	15,186	13,551	12%
Yorkshire & the Humber	9,669	7,630	27%
West Midlands	13,202	13,500	-2%
East Midlands	12,209	13,220	-8%
Eastern	15,915	16,832	-5%
South West	16,370	15,720	4%
Greater London	17,322	25,760	-33%
South East	26,147	22,902	14%
Totals for England	132,193	134,931	-2%
Scotland – Councils	11,531	12,716	-9%
Wales – Unitary Authorities	4,683	4,632	1%
Northern Ireland – Counties	3,280	3,225	2%
Totals for UK	151,687	155,504	-2%

Across the regions Yorkshire & Humberside led house building growth jumping 27%, followed by the South East, up 14%, and North West ahead 12% compared with 2015.

In terms of house types, 2016 saw the highest number of detached homes registered in the UK since 2004, with a total of 46,118 being registered and the highest number of semi-detached since records began 30 years ago (38,999).

NHBC Business Development Director Mark Jones said: “Taking into account the extraordinary events of 2016, the UK house building sector has remained resilient, despite initial caution around Brexit. We have also seen some strong regional growth outside of London.

“Both industry and consumer confidence remains high and early signs indicate that the new year has begun positively.”

from Construction Enquirer http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2017/02/03/london-annual-new-home-registrations-slump-a-third/

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