New house building starts In England in 2006 amounted to about 183,140 (up over 3% on 2005) and completions totalled 160,230 (up around 0.5% up on 2005).

The new figures from the Department of Communities and Local Government indicate that starts and completions in 2006 were both around 24% higher than in 2001.

Figures for the latest quarter to December show housing starts in England up 11% on the equivalent quarter in 2005. Completions in the December quarter show an 11% fall from the relative high level in the last quarter in 2005.

Starts and Completions in England

In the quarter to December 2006, there were around 47,570 starts and 41,750 completions. Comparing the quarter to December with the equivalent period in 2005:

Starts were up 11%. Completions were down 11%, but this compares with an unusually high 46,830 completion in December 2005 quarter.

The underlying quarterly trends show an upturn in starts in the December quarter following falls in the previous two quarters compared with the equivalent quarters in 2005. Completions have fallen back in the December quarter from the relatively high level from the equivalent quarter in 2005.

Regional Trends

The South East and the South West continued to see strong upward trends in starts. For example, South East starts amounted to 32,950 in 2006, 12% higher than in 2005.  There was also a recent upturn in starts in the East Midland.

Completions across the regions largely remained level or show moderate recent falls.