Dwelling stock in England rises to 24.2 million homes

The increase in the number of dwellings in England hit a 10-year high in March last year, according to new government data.

Figures from the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) revealed that 222,000 dwellings were added to the country’s housing stock in the year to 31 March 2018, in percentage terms a rise of nearly 1% year-on-year.

The increase took the total number of dwellings in England to 24.2 million.

The last time the increase exceeded this was in 2008, when the number of dwellings rose by 224,000 and the total number was 22.5 million.

The year to the end of March 2018 saw owner-occupied dwelling stock increase by 226,000, while social and affordable rented stock decreased by 1,000 and other public sector stock decreased by 13,000.

A total of 15.3 million dwellings were owner-occupied, along with 4.8 million private rented dwellings and 4 million social and affordable rented dwellings, managed by private registered providers and local authorities.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: “These fantastic figures show more owner-occupied homes than at any point since records began.

“This is a real statement of intent as we work to restore the dream of home ownership for a new generation.”

But Joseph Daniels, founder of modular homes specialist Project Etopia, said while the 10-year high for the creation of new homes was a welcome milestone, there was still a lot of work to do.

“The government’s manifesto housing commitment equated to nearly 200,000 new homes a year, though there remains a question mark over whether the Tory pledge related to the building of new homes or just the ‘delivery’ of new stock, which can include the creation of new homes through other means, including change of use.

“Even if the government was to argue all additional dwellings count towards the manifesto commitment, the rate of progress is still too sluggish to render its commitment for a further 500,000 homes by 2022 a safe bet.”

The MHCLG also said there were 634,453 vacant dwellings across England as at 1 October last year, up 4.7% year-on-year. Vacant dwellings represented nearly 3% of the dwelling stock.