A total of 3,709 homes were registered during the period April - June compared to 3,006 in Q2 2016.

Across the UK as a whole, 40,343 new homes were registered during Q2 2017, a marginal 1% decrease on the 40,810 registered 12 months ago.

A total of 29,123 homes were registered in the private sector, representing a 7% decrease on the same period a year ago (31,381), with 11,220 new homes registered in the affordable sector, a 19% increase on 2016 numbers (9,429).

Country/Region

Q2 2016

Q2 2017

England - Regions

North East

2,087

1,451

North West

3,531

4,317

Yorkshire & the Humber

2,336

2,475

West Midlands

3,182

4,223

East Midlands

3,812

3,595

Eastern

4,347

4,118

South West

4,824

3,802

Greater London

5,029

3,518

South East

7,060

6,622

Totals for England

36,208

34,121

Scotland - Councils

3,006

3,709

Wales - Unitary Authorities

861

1,345

Northern Ireland - Counties

735

1,168

Totals for UK

40,810

40,343

The continued rise in the affordable sector has been attributed to a number of larger housing associations developing homes for market rent, private sale and shared ownership along with a rise in joint ventures with the private sector.

Scotland was one of six out of the 12 UK regions to experience a growth in registrations when compared to the same period last year, with West Midlands (4,223 +33%) and Wales (1,345 +56%) also among the regions with most notable growth.

Commenting on the latest new home statistics, NHBC business development director, Neil Jefferson, said: “New home registrations have remained stable in the second quarter of this year, with some areas of the UK seeing significant increases in registration volumes.

“With demand for housing as strong as ever, the growth seen in the affordable sector is particularly encouraging.”