The number of new build house starts was flat in 2018 as compared to the year before at 165,160, as construction faltered in the final quarter of the year.
The government has a target of 300,000 new homes a year by the mid 2020s but the number of new starts in 2018 marked no change on the 165,090 starts in 2017.
Seasonally adjusted new build dwelling starts in England were estimated at 40,580 in the December 2018 quarter, which was 2% down on the same period the year before, and 8% down on the September 2018 quarter.
Completions were estimated at 42,970 in the December quarter 2018, which was a 1% rise on the same quarter a year ago and 2% up on the previous quarter.
Source: Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Source: Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government