New house registrations saw an increase in the final quarter of 2010, despite the severe weather in December, according to NHBC.
Registrations recorded by NHBC in December were 7,385 (2009: 7,149). For the full year 2010, registrations look set to end about 30% higher than overall registrations reported in 2009 (115,458 in 2010 compared with 88,083 in 2009).
“No-one is popping champagne corks but there is a growing belief that the worst is now behind us and we’re on the road to recovery,” said NHBC chief executive Imtiaz Farookhi.
“The pace and extent of that recovery really depends on factors out of the hands of the industry, such as mortgage availability and monetary pressure on consumers. These are the biggest obstacles that the housebuilding sector now faces for the coming year.”
Private registrations for the final quarter of 2010 were up 1% on a year ago at 18,551, while the total was 13% higher in the public sector.
Total registrations were 27,262 (2009: 26,078).
