The number of government-funded homes built in the Bristol area almost doubled last year, according to new data.
Statistics published by Homes England show that the total number of homes completed in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire almost doubled in the last year - from 287 in 2017/18 to 550 in 2018/19.
That’s compared to 401 new homes completed in 2016/17.
The number of new homes started on site also increased.
Some 1,111 homes were started on site between April 2018 and the end of March 2019 - up 88 per cent compared to the 592 started in 2017/18.
Despite the overall large increase in completed homes, the number of those that were affordable rose by a lower rate - just 24 per cent - up from 282 in 2017/18 to 350 in 2018/19.
The number of affordable homes starting construction rose by 11 per cent - from 423 to 468.
Affordable housing is defined by the government as homes that are provided at ‘affordable rent’ - which is 80 per cent of the market rent - ‘social rent’, which is even cheaper than that, ‘intermediate rent’, above social rent but below market value, and ‘affordable home ownership’ - shared ownership and rent to buy.
Homes England is a public body which funds new affordable housing developments in England.
Therefore these statistics do not include affordable housing built by private companies - so don’t paint a full picture of the housing market.
The situation in Bristol mirrors the national trend.
Nationally, the statistics show an increase in the number of homes and affordable homes started and completed under programmes managed by Homes England.
Between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 there were 45,692 new houses started - the highest level for nine years.
There were also 40,289 houses completed - the highest level for four years.
Some 67 per cent of starts and 71 per cent of completions were for affordable homes - the highest figures since 2014 and 2015 respectively.
However, the number of houses that were completed for affordable rent, rather than ownership or rent to buy, fell by four per cent compared to 2017/18 - despite the number of new starts increasing.
But Bristol City Council said the Homes England figures don’t give a “full picture of the progress being made” on affordable housing in the city.
A spokesperson for the authority said: “Bristol is recognised as being at the forefront of new thinking on housing, generating fresh ideas and approaches and showing that a rapid increase in affordable house building is possible with leadership.
“The Homes England figures don’t give a full picture of the progress we have made on affordable housing in Bristol, for which we have ambitious plans.
“In 2018/19 there have been 738 affordable homes started and 260 completed. We remain on track to meet a manifesto commitment from the mayor to be building 2,000 new homes – 800 affordable – a year by 2020.
“We continue to make suggestions to Government on changes to funding and systems to increase the supply of genuinely affordable housing.’’
Nick Walkley, chief executive of Homes England, said: “At a time where the average house costs around eight times the average income, these are positive signs that the delivery of homes, and particularly affordable homes, is on the up.
“However, there is still a huge amount of work to do to make sure this trend continues.
“We’re just getting started and need the sector to join us in our mission to make sure we continue to deliver homes across the country for the people who need them the most.”
