More homes were built in England in 2019/20 than in any other year since 1987, new figures have revealed.
The report, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), also shows that the number of homes delivered has increased for the seventh year in a row.
According to the annual figures, a total 243,770 new properties were delivered in the last 12 months – the highest number on record in 33 years.
The development of new build properties accounted for around 90 per cent of all homes delivered, while the remaining 10 per cent consisted of 1,700 student accommodation units and 27,000 new homes made available through the Government’s “change of use” reforms.
It means that more than 1.8 million new homes have now been delivered in England since 2010, but the Government is still missing targets set in 2017 aiming to build 300,000 new properties a year.
Commenting on the figures, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “Nearly a quarter of a million homes were delivered during the last year – more than at any point in the last 33 years, helping families across the country get the keys to their first home.
“The pandemic has posed significant challenges for home building but this government will continue to support the industry and the £20 billion investment announced at the Spending Review will ensure we deliver the homes this country needs.
“In the longer term, our overhaul of the planning system will deliver even more high-quality, sustainable homes in the communities which need them most.”
Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, Stewart Baseley, added: “Today’s numbers show the continued progress being made by the industry to deliver more homes. Home builders have delivered more homes seven years in a row, increasing the number of homes built by 42 per cent in five years.”
The figures come after the launch of the new Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme. The initiative enables first-time buyers to borrow up to 20 per cent (or 40 per cent in London) of the purchase price of a new build home, reducing the initial deposit required and helping buyers get onto the property ladder faster.
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