NHBC data shows quarterly fall in registrations, despite signs of October rebound
The number of homes started by developers in the last quarter has fallen by 4% on the same period last year, according to the latest NHBC data.
The warranty body said this modest fall overall contained a much larger drop of 12% in the number of homes for private sale started on site in the three months to October.
Despite the quarterly fall, the body said starts had appeared to recover in October, with starts 6% higher than in October 2018.
NHBC, which registers homes for its warranty when they start on site, said a total 40,472 homes had been registered in the quarter to October, compared to 42,198 in the period last year. Eight of the UK’s twelve regions saw declines in starts. Nevertheless, starts in London grew by 10% and in the West Midlands by 56%.
The data appears to continue the picture painted by official government statistics for the first half of the year, which show starts sharply down on 2018, amid continuing economic and political uncertainty. Official figures show starts have fallen for three consecutive quarters, and were in the second quarter of this year 16% lower than the high point recorded in 2018.
NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said the apparent rebound in the NHBC’s October figures was “promising” and “encouraging”, given “several months of slowdown as a result of Brexit uncertainties”.
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