UK House building hits highest level since 2008 financial crisis but demand still outstrips supply

Despite the positive figures, house building is still well below the level needed to keep up with rising demand

A total of 162,880 homes were started in 2016-17, with 147,960 completed (Daniel Lynch)

The number of houses built in England has hit its highest in almost a decade, according to new Government figures.

A total of 162,880 homes were started in 2016-17, with 147,960 completed, the Department of Communities and Local Government said.

Both figures are the highest since 2007-8, when the credit crunch began, causing the construction industry to almost grind to a halt.

Housing starts in England were estimated at 43,170 in January to March – 3 per cent higher than in the previous three months and 21 per cent higher than a year ago. Completions hit 39,520, which was 9 per cent higher than the quarter before and 21 per cent higher than a year ago.

Despite the positive figures, house building is still well below the level needed to keep up with rising demand, as the population rises, experts have warned

A spokesperson for housing charity Shelter said: "While it's certainly positive to see a rise in house building, we should be under no illusion that these figures are still pitifully low.

"Even with this slight lift, we're still falling well short of the 250,000 homes a year we need to ease the burden of the housing crisis."

In the late 1960s and early 1970s more than 300,000 homes were constructed in England every year.

The news comes as the Council of Mortgage Lenders reported a substantial drop in demand for home loans in April.

Lenders advanced £18.4bn during the month - 11 per cent less than they did in March, the CML said.

All of the major parties have pledged to significantly increase the number of homes built. The Tories have said they will build 1.5 million homes by 2022, while Labour has promised a million new homes, including 100,000 new council houses every year. The Liberal Democrats say they will ensure 300,000 new homes are built each year by 2022.