Housebuilding dipped in June, with the NHBC warning that the next few months were now “pivotal” in terms of predicting the path of recovery in new homes supply.

But NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said it was too early to establish whether this was a cause for concern. “It may be a sign that the housing market recovery, while not abating, is beginning to plateau short-term,” he said.

NHBC recorded 9,263 registrations during the month, down from 10,870 in May but an improvement on 8,305 a year ago.

Private sector registrations were up 50% on a year ago at 19,977. Public sector registrations were 28% higher at 10,620.

In the second quarter 30,597 homes were registered (2009: 21,637).

Mr Farookhi said long term demographics supported the construction of significantly more homes but shorter-term factors such as the economic situation and mortgage availability “may well combine to limit the scope and pace of this much-needed recovery in volume”.