New homes completed by housing associations on the rise

The number of new homes completed by housing associations has risen by more than 1,000 in the last year, according to new statistics.

Figures published today by the National Housing Federation, show 9,291 new homes were completed by housing associations in the first quarter of 2017/18, compared to 8,247 in the same three months last year.

The statistics also show the number of new homes started by housing associations has fallen over the last 12 months, from 10,444 in the first quarter of 2016/17 to 9,063 in the first three months of this financial year.

Almost two thirds (61%) of new started in the first quarter of 2017/18 were delivered outside the affordable homes programme, compared to 48% of all the new homes completed.

Nearly two thirds of affordable home starts were delivered through Section 106, compared to 57% of affordable completions.

And 15% of starts and 16% of homes completed were for market rent or sale.

‘Despite an increasingly difficult operating environment, housing associations remain committed to building the homes the nation needs – completions are up on this time last year,’ said the federation’s member intelligence manager, Jenny Charlton.

‘There is also a continued commitment to social rent, with housing associations delivering over a thousand homes of this kind in the first quarter. Notably, four-fifths of these are delivered without any government subsidy,’ she added.

‘The figures also demonstrate housing associations’ standing as independent, social businesses. The trend to delivering homes outside of the affordable homes programme continues with almost two-thirds of new homes started without government funds.’

The figures also show significant regional variations, with the majority of developments taking place in London and the south east of England.

According to the statistics, 2,256 homes were completed by housing associations in London during the first quarter and 1,781 were completed in the south east.

This compares to 357 in the north east and 536 in Yorkshire and the Humber over the same time period.

The south east also saw 1,136 homes completed through Section 106 agreements, while Yorkshire and the Humber had 231 and the north east had just 80.