House building starts fell in the quarter to June this year, but the report from the Department for Communities and Local Government said the long-term trend is still upward.

In England during the quarter to June 2006 there were:

• 46,800 housing starts, down 5% on the same period in 2005.
• 43,000 housing completions, up 5% on the same period in 2005.

In the 12 month period to June 2006 in England there were:

• 182,400 starts, up 4% on the figure for the same 12 month period last year.
• 165,400 completions, up 5% on the figure for the same 12 month period last year
• Comparing the two periods, all regions saw increases in completions except South West and London

The long-term trend in housing starts continues upwards even though starts in the latest quarter to June 2006 were down compared to the quarter to March 2006. The trend in starts shows a 29% increase between the end of June and the equivalent 12-month period to the end of June in 2001.

Completions show a similar long-term trend of a 28% increase over the same period.

Regional Trends

Starts maintained recent level trends in the North and Midland regions with the exception of the North West where a fall has slowed the long term rising trend to the level at the end of March 2006. Several regions have seen short-term fluctuations in completions, but the East Midlands has seen a steadily increasing trend since the June quarter 2003 amounting to an increase of 23%.

London, South East, East and South West.

The South East and South West saw continued increases in starts. Starts in London and the East showed short term falls in the quarter to June following upturns in the preceding quarter

Completions in the South East and East have continued upward trends, with increases of 38% and 33% respectively since the quarter to June 2001. Completions in London increased for the second successive quarter to reach the level before the peak in 2004/05. South West completions dropped slightly but continue to fluctuate around a moderate upward trend.