MORE than 160,000 new homes were registered to be built across the UK last year - the highest number for a decade, according to industry figures.
A total of 160,606 homes were registered during 2017, up 6 per cent on the previous year and the highest since pre-economic downturn levels, the National House Building Council (NHBC) said.
It was the highest annual figure since 198,929 homes were registered in 2007.
In Northern Ireland, registrations were up 8 per cent at 3,526.
The NHBC's registration statistics are taken from builders who are responsible for around 80 per cent of homes constructed in the UK.
Builders are required to register a house with the NHBC, a warranty and insurance provider, before starting work, which means its figures represent homes to be built in the months ahead.
New home completions also increased by 4 per cent compared with 2016, reaching 147,278 last year.
Nine out of 12 UK nations and regions saw an increase in registrations, with the East Midlands, Wales and North West England among the growth hotspots.
Figures for London showed the rate of new homes being registered was slightly up on 2016, marking the first increase year on year in the capital since 2014.
Within 2017's annual total of new homes being registered, those in the private sector grew by 3 per cent annually, with 118,825 new homes registered, and the affordable sector increasing by 14 per cent to 41,781 - the highest yearly total for the sector since the NHBC's electronic records started 30 years ago.
NHBC chief executive Steve Wood said: "Our figures show the market has delivered strong growth resulting in the highest new home figures for a decade and growth across the majority of the UK, including London, for the first time since 2014.
"Looking ahead, NHBC will continue to work with the industry to help raise the standards of new homes. With 6 per cent growth in the quantity of new home registrations, the focus on delivering quality for consumers remains critical."
Here are the numbers of homes registered across the UK in 2017 and the annual change, according to the NHBC:
North East, 6,605, 7 per cent
North West and Merseyside, 16,947, 12 per cent
Yorkshire and Humberside, 9,376, minus 3 per cent
West Midlands, 14,962, 13 per cent
East Midlands, 14,481, 19 per cent
Eastern, 17,319, 9 per cent
South West, 15,143, minus 8 per cent
London, 17,850, 1 per cent
South East, 26,142, 0 per cent
Scotland, 12,785, 10 per cent
Wales, 5,470, 19 per cent
Northern Ireland and Isle of Man, 3,526, 8 per cent
