Figures published by NHBC show registrations for public sector housing down 49%

Registrations to build social housing are down almost 50% compared to last year, according to the National House-Building Council (NHBC).

New home registration figures for the public sector during the period February to April 2012 were 5,867, compared to 11,521 the same time last year, a fall of 49%.

Registrations to build private sector homes were up 5% compared to the same period last year. But the fall in public sector registrations meant overall figures were down 15% year-on-year.

Richard Tamayo, NHBC commercial director, said: “Despite seeing modest, but sustainable and widespread growth in private housing, the large drop-off in social housing registrations mean that overall volumes have fallen compared with the same period last year.

“This reduction in social housing may simply be a hiatus as the industry moves from one funding model to another.

“Meanwhile, it seems clear that the private sector is likely to continue to be the engine for much-needed growth in overall housing supply.

“Therefore monitoring the success of initiatives such as the New Buy scheme and changes to make the planning system more flexible will be key to understanding how the next few years will play out.”