29
2011
UK Housebuilding projects rise by 26%
An article by Fires Guy
The number of new properties under construction rose by 26 per cent during the first quarter, figures have shown.
Official data reveals that the housebuilding industry is showing signs of recovery, with 29,140 homes starting on site during the three months to the end of March.
This was 26 per cent more than during the previous quarter and the highest level since the second quarter of 2008, according to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The figure was also 88 per cent higher than the low reached at the beginning of 2009.
It follows two consecutive quarters during which housebuilding numbers had fallen.
Within the total, housebuilding by private developers was up by 24 per cent, while starts by housing associations jumped by 37 per cent.
But commentators warned that although the increase in new-build numbers was good news, it was likely to reflect the fact that starts had been impacted during the previous quarter by the bad weather.
Although the number of new homes started in the 12 months to March rose by 22 per cent to 106,590, this was also still around half the level that is needed to meet growing demand.
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