The latest government figures on housebuilding, released as a separate survey by the Federation of Master Builders, combined with higher reservation rates for new Barratt homes sent out mixed messages to the industry this week.
The number of housebuilders building fewer than 500 houses per year has fallen to 3,824- its lowest level since records began, Construction Enquirer reported, adding that ‘FMB director Brian Berry warned that the lack of house builders would hamper the recovery.’
Construction News reported that the number of schemes began in the last three months to September had ‘barely changed’ from those in the previous quarter year, at 23,410. This was 1% lower than in the previous quarter, the weekly reported. It added that actual housing starts in the 12 months to September 2011 stood at 96,070, down 7% compared with the same period last year.
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