Housebuilding at 11-year high

But critics say it’s still not enough

THE number of homes built in England has hit an 11year high, government figures show.

a total of 173,670 homes were completed by developers, councils and housing associations in the year to June, an 8pc rise on the previous year.

But the figure remained well below the Government’s target of 300,000 and was lower than the number delivered in 2007 before the financial crisis.

There are also fears the building industry is losing steam after data from the ministry of Housing, Communities & local Government showed the number of homes being started was falling.

Critics accused ministers of failing to tackle the housing crisis and claimed taxpayer-funded schemes such as Help to Buy had pushed up prices and boosted profits. Polly Neate, chief executive of Shelter, said: ‘It’s clear the private market alone will never deliver the number or type of homes we need – so the best chance the Government has of catching up with its target is to build social homes.’

reuben Young, of campaign group Priced out, said: ‘The Government should spend more money on building homes and less on disastrous schemes like Help to Buy that only push prices up further.’

about 45,190 homes were completed in the three months to June, up 4pc from the previous quarter and 11pc on the previous year. The total for the year to June was 173,670, the highest annual figure since 2007 when 176,640 homes were built. But the number of homes started during the June quarter fell by 2pc to 37,220 – the third quarter in a row to show a decrease. The annual total of homes was also down 1pc to 160,640 in the year to June.

Housing Secretary robert Jenrick said: ‘We are moving in the right direction, but there is still much more to do.’

labour’s John Healey, the Shadow Housing Secretary, said the latest figures made for ‘worrying’ reading. ‘ Falling house building makes the case for a big public investment programme stronger,’ he added.