A total of 10,890 new homes were completed in the first six months of the year, while a further 12,569 new homes were started on site according to official housing statistics published by the Homes and Communities Agency today.

The statistics – covering the period 1 April to 30 September – show that of the 12,569 homes started 9,970 were for affordable rent or sale; an increase of over 200% on the same period last year. The Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) accounted for 96 per cent of the starts.

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Affordable housing completions were slightly lower relative to the same period last year at 9,879 in April to September 2012 compared to 8,314 for the first six months of this year, due to the ending of FirstBuy which added 3,499 completions to last year’s total. The 5,375 completions that the new Help to Buy programme would have contributed to the total are reported separately.

Affordable Rent completions increased by 325 per cent compared to same period last year (4,569 v 1,074); while 2,576 market homes were completed, an increase of 10%. The 5,375 homes completed through Help to Buy demonstrate the impact of this new programme in helping people into home ownership and stimulating demand.

(CD/IT)