In Wales, new house building is undertaken by the private sector, Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and local authorities. The information presented here is based on the reports of local authority building inspectors and the National House Building Council (NHBC). It does not include information from private approved inspectors. The exclusion of this information means that there is currently an undercount in the number of dwellings completed though this is estimated to be quite small.
The information shows the number of new dwellings completed in Wales and is collected in order to assess the level of new house building across Wales during the period. The data is used to help monitor trends in both the overall level of Welsh housing stock and the changes in its tenure distribution over time. Data is also used by the Welsh Government and local authorities to assess levels of housing supply across Wales and as an indication as to whether housing need is being met.
Figures on housing completions are from records kept for building control purposes. It is sometimes difficult for building control officers and NHBC to identify the intended final tenure of the property (the basis for the tenure information). This may lead to an under-count of social sector new house building and an over-count for the private sector. Within the social sector it may also lead to an under-count of local authority new house building and an over count for the RSL sector. Therefore the tenure data should be treated with caution.
New house building funded with capital grant funding includes funding via Social Housing Grant, Recycled Social Housing Grant and Strategic Capital Investment Fund.
Data collection and calculation
The information presented here is collected via quarterly returns from Local Authorities and the National Housing-Building Council (NHBC).
From 1974-75 onwards. Quarterly data not collected for 2020-21 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Users, uses and context
Please find this information in the related statistical publication, as per the given weblink.
Rounding applied
None
Revisions information
Data prior to the last period covered have been revised since previously published. Revisions are marked in the data with an (r).
As these data also form part of other data collections, for example counts of properties which are compliant with the Welsh Housing Quality Standard, it is possible that the data will be subject to minor revision in due course. If necessary, for example where revisions are significant, these amendments will also be included in a revised formal release of data (see weblinks).
New dwellings completed by period and tenure
