Latest figures from the UK’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) state that total construction output rose by 0.2 per cent in October compared with September and was one per cent higher than a year ago. The Construction Products Association (CPA) underlined that these figures, released on Friday, clearly highlight the rise in private housing and the sharp fall in public housing.
Dr Noble Francis, Economics Director of the CPA, commented: “After the slowdown in construction activity in Q3, it was good to see an acceleration in activity for the construction industry on both a monthly and an annual basis. However, the figures also highlight contrasting fortunes for private and public house building. Private housing output rose 2.3 per cent in October compared with September and was 4.6 per cent higher than a year ago.
"Going forward, policies announced by the Chancellor in his recent Autumn Statement, such as London Help to Buy, should ensure further growth in private housing output by incentivising major house builders to increase building rates over the next 12 months. However, there are mounting concerns regarding affordability in the housing market, especially in London where average house prices are already 9.6 times average earnings."
Falls in public housing of 'major concern'
Dr Francis adds that the falls in public housing are a "major concern", despite the Chancellor’s announcement of "400,000 new affordable homes" in November’s Autumn Statement. He notes: "Public housing output in October was three per cent lower than September and 25.9 per cent lower than a year ago. The ONS figures also highlight that new orders for public housing in Q3 were 26.7 per cent lower than a year ago due to funding issues for housing associations as they face falling public sector funding, cuts in social rent and the extension of Right to Buy. As a result, the trend for public house building appears to be sharply negative over the next 12 months.”
