The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has delivered on its key programmes, achieving 34,461 housing completions and 38,845 starts on site across England in the financial year ending 31 March 2014.
In doing so it remains on track to make a significant contribution towards government aspirations to deliver up to 170,000 new affordable homes by 2015, and increase wider housing supply.
The top line figures published in detail today on the HCA website, cover completions of 27,643 affordable homes (of which 958 were FirstBuy homes) and 6,818 open market homes; and starts of 32,862 affordable homes and 5,983 open market homes.
Excluding FirstBuy, housing completions in 2013/14 compare favourably with the preceding year, equating to a 24% increase in affordable homes delivery over the course of the year. In 2012/13, there were 21,576 affordable homes completed excluding FirstBuy (out of a total 33,877 market and affordable homes including FirstBuy). In addition, in 2013/14 a total of 19,401 homes, including London, were sold under Help to Buy equity loan, which replaced FirstBuy; these numbers are reported separately.
Chief Executive of the HCA, Andy Rose, said: “These figures show once again that the HCA, as a trusted delivery body for government, has met or exceeded its key housing targets. This is a solid foundation on which to build as we move into the crucial final year of delivery in the current spending period while preparing for new programmes in the next.
“Government has made clear that everyone needs the security of a decent affordable home, while more people who want to own their own home should have the opportunity to do so. Together with our partners, we have made a substantial contribution to overall housing supply.
“The results are a credit to the hard work of our staff and our partners. We expect strong activity in the year ahead, and we will be closely monitoring delivery to ensure that we remain on track to achieve our contribution to government aspirations for housing supply.”
The statistics published today present a successful delivery year for 2013/14, during which the Agency also:
- Disposed of enough land for 5,944 homes, against a target of 4,771; and for 263,182 sq m of employment floorspace against a target of 194,028 sq m
- Created over 320,000 sq m of office, commercial and employment floorspace, supporting new and expanding businesses and jobs, against a target of 220,033 sq m.
- Brought 114 hectares of previously developed land back into use for housing or commercial development, against a target of 98 hectares.
- Delivered potential for the creation or continuation of 9,333 jobs in the construction sector and supporting industries.
- Attracted £1.38 billion of private sector investment into the sector.
The statistics exclude housing delivery for London, which is managed by the GLA. The exceptions are Get Britain Building and Build to Rent, which are managed by the HCA on behalf of the GLA and are included in the statistics reported here.
The HCA will publish its next set of six monthly statistics in November/December 2014.
