In the first quarter housing starts in England, adjusted to account for seasonal influences, increased by 36% vis à vis the comparative quarter of the preceding year to 46,010 units. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, this represents the highest figure recorded over the last 13 years. The last time a higher number of housing starts had been recorded was in the first quarter of 2007 (49,473 units). The increase, however, could only partially compensate the declines recorded in the preceding three quarters. According to preliminary figures, housing starts in the twelve months up to and including March declined nominally by 4% vis à vis the comparative period of the preceding year to 140,170 units.
Actual completions, at 49,470 units, increased by 4% compared to last year and thus reached the highest quarterly figure ever recorded. Similar to housing starts, the negative development recorded in preceding quarters could not be fully compensated. Accordingly, completions in the twelve-month period up to and including March declined nominally by 11% to 155,960 units.
