UK rate of house building slows in third quarter, NHBC stats show

There was an 8% decline in the number of new homes registered to be built in the UK in the three months to August compared to the same period last year.

The National House Building Council (NHBC) reported 36,869 new home registrations in the quarter to August 2016, down 8% from the 40,123 in the same period last year, and down 10.6% on the 41,222 second quarter this year.

Almost 12,500 new homes were registered to be built in the UK in August according to the NHBC’s latest registration statistics, an increase of 20% compared to the same month last year.

A total of 12,486 new homes, of which 9,225 were in the private sector, were registered in August, compared to 10,391 and 8,385 private a year ago.

“August’s registration statistics show that the number of new homes being registered is considerably up compared to the same time last year," NHBC Chief Executive Mike Quinton said.

“While overall rolling quarter numbers are down 8%, this came during an unprecedented period of uncertainty immediately after the EU Referendum. Despite this over half of the UK regions experienced growth in registrations compared to the same three month period last year.

“As ever, NHBC remains fully committed to support the industry to build new homes to the highest possible standards.”