Housebuilding applications rise again
The decline in UK housebuilding is stabilising according to the latest figures from the National House-Builder's Council (NHBC).
In the past three months to the end of April 2009, applications to build new homes have risen by 10 per cent compared to the previous quarter - the first quarter-on-quarter rise in almost two years.
However, the sector is still depressed – the number of applications is 53 per cent down compared to the same period last year.
In the public sector, the number of applications for the three months to the end of April was 11 per cent lower than the same period a year ago, while new-build completions in the combined private and public sectors were 30 per cent down.
The figures also showed that the average number of daily sales of new homes in the UK from February to April 2009 was 30% lower than a year ago.
Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC’s chief executive, said: "While it is still too early to assume that these are definite signs of a recovery, some positive indicators are emerging which suggest that the severe downturn in house-building activity may be beginning to turn a corner.
"Anecdotal evidence from house-builders and developers also suggests that conditions are easing slightly on site, no doubt boosted by the government's recent £1 billion budgetary pledge to help the housing market and the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) Kickstart initiative to open up mothballed sites."