Number of houses being built down
Updated on 17 May 2007
The number of homes being built in England fell by 6% in the last financial year - heaping more pressure on the UK's growing housing need, figures have shown.
Official statistics from the Government showed that in 2006/07 there were 173,369 housing starts - properties in the early stage of construction - compared to 184,906 in the previous year.
The number of homes being completed did, however, register a 3% increase on 2005/06 figures, up to 167,691 in 2006/07.
Despite a rise in finished homes coming onto the market, the drop in the number of properties in construction is likely to put further focus on UK's growing disparity between housing supply and demand.
Latest official estimates suggest that an average 223,000 new households will be formed every year over the next two decades.
As such, even with completion figures going up, the last financial year saw a shortfall of around 50,000 houses.
The lack of available property also puts further pressure of first-time buyers, with rising costs pricing many would-be buyers out of the market.
Adam Sampson, chief executive of homelessness charity Shelter, said: "Whilst the small rise in completed new homes is a move in the right direction, the latest drop of new homes being started is worrying.
"Any drop in the supply of new homes will further widen the gap between supply and demand, push up prices and deepen the housing crisis."
Quarterly figures showed that between January and March, 43,600 housing starts were recorded, down 9% on unusually high figures recorded in the same period last year. Completions were up 18%, rising to 44,600.
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