NHBC notes downturn in building applications

The National House Building Council (NHBC) has noted that there were 105,449 registers by developers of intent to build in 2023 compared with 189,009 in 2022, with the biggest decrease in the north-west of 61%.

The West Midlands was the next worst hit, with a drop of 59%, followed by the eastern region with a 51% decrease. Private sector registrations were down 53% in 2023 to 64,877 compared with 136,805 in 2022.

NHBC Head of Policy and Insight Rico Wojtulewicz said: “The market is one element creating a registration drop, as is the reliance on big builders on large sites, which are more exposed to market forces.

“However, the consequences of Covid-19 and slow planning decisions mean over the past three years fewer sites were permissioned and signed off for shovels to go in the ground.”

Image credit | iStock