Commencement notices for 2,746 new residential homes were received by building control authorities in May 2022, a 17% increase on April 2022 figures of 2,346.

The figure is 44.7% lower than May 2021 (4,736 units), due to a backlog following the ending of pandemic-related restrictions on residential construction from January to April 2021, when there was reduced activity in the first quarter of that year.

In the past 12 months (June 2021 to May 2022), commencement notices for 30,233 new homes were received.

Rolling 12-month basis

On a rolling 12-month basis, the total number of homes for which commencement notices were received (25,501 new homes) is 18.5% higher than the previous 12-month period of June 2020 to May 2021.

The figures are not directly comparable due to the pandemic-related restrictions on construction during the March 2020-April 2021 period.

With the exception of 2020, residential home commencement notices have increased every year since 2015.