The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) released its second quarter housing statistics on the 25th of August.
On a quarterly basis, house building starts in England were estimated at 36,400 in Q2, a 2% increase compared to Q1 and a 6% increase compared to a year ago. Completions were estimated at 34,920, 7% higher than the previous quarter and 2% lower than a year ago.

Annual housing starts totaled 144,280 in the year to June 2016, up by 2% compared with the year to June 2015. During the same period, completions totaled 139,030, an increase of 6% compared with last year.

Private enterprise housing starts were 4% higher in the June quarter 2016 than the previous quarter whereas completions were 3% higher. Starts by housing associations were 6% lower compared to the last quarter and completions 29% higher.

All starts are now 112% above the trough in Q1 2009 but 26% below the Q1 2007 peak. All completions are 39% above the trough in Q1 2013 and 28% below their Q1 2007 peak.