UK new home registrations grow 6% in 2017

More than 160,000 new homes were registered to be built in the UK last year, up from the 152,000 the previous year and the highest since the pre-recession levels of a decade ago.

The private sector grew by 3% with 118,825 new homes registered, with the affordable sector increasing by 14% to 41,781 – the highest yearly total for the sector since NHBC electronic records began 30 years ago.

New home completions also increased by 4% from 141,685 in 2016 to 147,278 last year. Nine out of 12 UK regions experienced an increase in registrations, with the East Midlands and Wales leading the charge (both +19%).

Figures for London showed the rate of new homes being registered was slightly up on 2016, with 17,850 units compared to 17,587 the previous year, the first increase year-on-year in the capital since 2014.

“Our figures show the market has delivered strong growth resulting in the highest new home figures for a decade and growth across the majority of the UK, including London for the first time since 2014,” said NHBC chief executive Steve Wood.