Registrations for the rolling quarter are up 13% on the same period 12 months ago, according to the first new home figures for 2015, revealed recently by the National House-Building Council (NHBC).

In January, 11,390 new homes were registered, compared to 11,645 last January, with the private sector showing 8,849 new homes compared to 8,408 the previous year. However, the public sector was down to 2,541, compared to 3,237 last January.

Overall, totals for the rolling quarter incorporating November 2014 – January 2015 show that 35,836 new homes were registered in the UK, compared to 31,852 for the corresponding quarter last year. The private sector increased 23%, with the public sector down 14%.

NHBC chief executive Mike Quinton remarked: “Following on from our annual registration figures, the rolling quarter shows that the overall new home volumes are ahead of 12 months ago, with the private sector quite clearly the main driver of growth. Even though January was slightly down, we must remember this is after the extremely strong figures for December.

“We anticipate an important couple of months in the run-up to the General Election, with housing likely to be at the forefront of political debate in an effort to increase overall levels of new homes that the country urgently requires.”