Flats are the most popular new build property in the UK…

NHBC's latest statistics show that the principal housing type being started in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are flats and maisonettes.

With the level of high rise buildings increasing in recent years, according to NHBC's statistics, flats and maisonettes made up 51% of new homes started in England during quarter three this year - almost double the combined percentage of semi-detached and detached homes started (28%).

In Wales, NHBC statistics show that the percentage of flats and maisonettes started in the third quarter of this year rose from 34% in the second quarter to 46%, more than double the percentage of detached homes started (21%).

In Northern Ireland, all three-quarters this year have experienced a significant rise in the number of flats and maisonettes when compared to 2006. Statistics show that flats and maisonettes constituted 29% of all new homes started in quarter three 2007, five percentage points higher than detached homes started and nine percentage points higher than semi-detached homes started during the quarter.

Quarter three figures for Scotland show flats and maisonettes rivalling detached houses – 37% compared with 39% respectively.

Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC's Chief Executive, said: "While flats and maisonettes have been the dominant housing type in England since 2003, this year for the first time, we are seeing flats and maisonettes exceed both the number of detached homes and semi-detached homes in Northern Ireland and Wales."

Additional statistics by NHBC for quarter three 2007 show that the number of applications to start new homes increased when compared with figures for the same quarter last year.