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NEW HOME APPLICATIONS RISE (News (General))
by administrator 
, Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 05:00
Applications to build houses across the UK rose in the last quarter of 2009, according to NHBC figures.
It said applications to build new homes between October and December 2009 rose 64% from 15,879 to 26,078 compared with the same period in 2008.
This was driven by the private sector, where applications surged 113%, from 8,646 in the last quarter of 2008, to 18,393 in 2009. Public sector demand saw a six per cent rise, from 7,233 to 7,685. The number of homes registered with the NHBC in December 2009 rose 68% from the previous year, from 4,259 to 7,149.
Imtiaz Farookhi, chief executive of the NHBC, said: "Our house building colleagues across the industry have shown cautious optimism as they reveal their predictions for 2010, and our stats support the prospect of significant recovery.
"However, 2009 has been extremely challenging, with build levels extremely low. Now, the nation's house builders need support from the government as they see their way out of this downturn and try to meet the need for new homes."
He said 2010 would be a 'watershed year' in assessing whether house building targets could be met in terms of quantity and quality.
The north east region saw the biggest increase of new applications for homes, rising 269% between the last quarter of 2008 and 2009 - from 187 to 690. That was followed by the Isle of Man at 246% - from 13 to 45 - and Merseyside with 127%- from 154 in October to December 2008 to 349 in the same period last year.
