The following table shows the number of annual house building starts on permanent dwellings in England from 1979 until 2007. All data given are for calendar years.
Number 1979 186,230 1980 131,340 1981 133,990 1982 167,410 1983 193,330 1984 173,460 1985 173,460 1986 187,090 1987 200,800 1988 220,010 1989 166,380 1990 133,470 1991 133,800 1992 129,300 1993 151,230 1994 165,440 1995 136,230 1996 144,710 1997 157,570 1998 149,060 1999 147,510 2000 144,520 2001 147,610 2002 149,060 2003 159,440 2004 176,600 2005 177,130 2006 177,200 2007 166,350 Source: New build completions from P2 monthly and quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and the National House-Building Council (NHBC).
Dwellings built on windfall sites can be counted towards the achievement of house-building targets, but local authorities should not rely on such sites coming forward to meet housing need. They should therefore not include an allowance for windfalls in the first 10 years of land supply unless they can provide robust evidence of genuine local circumstances that prevent specific sites being identified.