Housing supply increased by 232,820 in England in 2021 to 2022, up 10% on the years 2020 to 2021, according to the latest government figures.

Net additional dwellings in 2021 to 2022 are 4% below their 2019 to 2020 peak and are 87% above their 2012 to 2013 trough.

The 232,820 net additional dwellings represents a 0.9% increase on the previous dwelling stock estimate of 24.9mn in England as of 31 March 2021.

The latest data found that the total net additional dwellings resulted from 210,070 new build homes, which accounted for 90% of the net change. 

the 22,770 additional dwellings resulting from the change of use accounted for 10% of the net change, the 4,870 conversions accounted for 2% of the net change and the 780 other gains accounted for 0% of the net change.

The loss of 5,680 demolitions accounted for -2% of the net change.

New data was collected on dwellings between 2021 and 2022 from new builds and demolitions under ‘permitted development rights’. 

The 210,070 new build dwellings included 131, while the loss of 5,680 dwellings under demolitions included 32, both through unspecified development rights.

Data found that net additions from new builds increased by 10%, net additions from conversions increased by 43%, net additions from change of use increased by 6%, net additions from other gains increased by 21% and losses from demolitions increased by 4% compared to the previous period.

Mather & Murray managing director Samuel Mather-Holgate says: “These figures are truly disappointing. Although a 10% increase in new houses seems good on the face of it, this comes from a really low number that were built during Covid when there was a 13% reduction.”

“The government really do need to get a grip on building new houses. It’s good economic policy, but more importantly it’s good social policy. I fear that the Tories are paralysed when it comes to any policy that is in any way likely to have some opposition so they will shy away from this as they have done for a decade. Britain needs a new deal.”

Riverside Mortgages founder Lewis Shaw comments: “The UK housing supply is still significantly below where it should be. According to research by Heriot-Watt University, we need to build at least 340,000 new homes a year. Of those, 145,000 per year should be affordable. We need to do that every year until 2031 because the UK has an enormous backlog of up to four million homes.”

Shaw explains the latest data shows “we’re way off track which is one of the reasons why house prices will continue to increase over the medium term once we’ve gotten over the hump of this recession”.

NewPlace managing director Joe Garner adds: “Until every single person has a permanent roof over their head, the figures are nowhere near good enough.”

“Planning policy must favour the delivery of new homes until we meet every single need for housing. Quotas and targets are useless when local authorities fail to reach them without consequence.”

“This, coupled with NIMBYism and political point scoring means we are failing the most needy in our society and must readdress our priorities urgently.”

“Building new council homes stimulates the economy, provides jobs and will give everyone the safety and security only a permanent home can provide.”