Government figures show a rise in number of homes being built

The Housing Minister, Brandon Lewis has welcomed new figures, which have shown a rise in the number of homes being built, and said it is proof that the government is keeping the country building and delivering the homes that are so desperately needed throughout the UK.

The latest housebuilding figures show that there were over 131,060 completions in the last 12 months, which is 15 per cent higher than in the previous 12 months and at their highest annual level since June 2009. Although there is an increase in build numbers, housebuilding is still falling behind the suggested 250,000 homes a year required to keep up with population growth.

However, identifying this rise in delivered homes as being part of the government’s helping create a new generation of homeowners Brandon Lewis said:

“Our One Nation government has got the country building again with today’s figures showing that 131,060 extra homes have been built in the past year. This has provided a real boost to the UK’s construction industry and is delivering the homes that hard-working people rightly deserve.

“However, we know there is more to do. That is why we have outlined plans to deliver 275,000 affordable homes by the end of this Parliament – the fastest rate of building for 20 years.

“We’re also determined to support those who aspire to own their own home, which is why we’re making up to £10 million available to bring forward brownfield sites to build new Starter Homes which will be available to young first-time buyers at a 20 per cent discount.”

Latest figures from the Office of National Statistics have also shown that output in the construction industry increased by 2.7 per cent in June compared to the same month last year. Work on private new housing between April and June rose by nearly 3.9 per cent on the previous quarter.