NHBC’s latest statistics show housebuilding is continuing to stagnate, with new home registrations dropping to 9,978 in August from 11,310 in July.
In the first eight months of the year 72,827 new houses were built, more than 100,000 homes lower than the 185,000 built during the whole of 2006.
NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi said the level of homes being built was simply too low to support the needs of the UK population.
“Insufficient supply inevitably leads to higher prices and this is creating a two tier Britain, split between those lucky enough to already own a desirable property and the younger generation who can see their own aspirations of home ownership dashed by unwillingness at local level to build the homes that would make that possible,” he said.
The level of housebuilding in August was similar to last year (9,954). Some 7,314 new homes were registered in the private sector, 8% up on last year, while 2,664 were registered in the public sector – an 16% drop.
For the quarter June-August registrations are actually up 20% on a year ago at 35,853 (2010: 29,855).
