Accredited official statistics

Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England: 2023 to 2024

Published 28 November 2024

Applies to England

• Publication for Northern Ireland
• Publication for Scotland
• Publication for Wales

Date of next publication: It is expected that the Housing supply: net additional dwellings, England: 2024-25 statistics will be published in November 2025 (provisional). The date will be pre-announced on the GOV.UK publication release calendar.

1. Key statistics

Annual housing supply in England amounted to 221,070 net additional dwellings in 2023-24, a 6% decrease on 2022-23.

This resulted from 198,610 new build homes, 21,590 gains from change of use between non-domestic and residential, 4,360 from conversions between houses and flats and 1,900 other gains (caravans, house boats, etc), offset by 5,390 demolitions.

767 of the net additions from new build homes were through ‘permitted development rights’ (full planning permission not required).

8,825 of the net additions from change of use were through ‘permitted development rights’ (full planning permission not required). These comprised 6,695  additional dwellings from former offices, 564 from agricultural buildings, 99 from storage buildings, 62 from light industrial buildings,803 from commercial, business and service use buildings and 602 from other non-domestic buildings.

The loss of 22 dwellings from demolitions were through ‘permitted development rights’ (full planning permission not required).

2. Introduction

This statistical release presents National Statistics^{[footnote 1] [footnote 2]} on net additional dwellings in England up to 2023-24. The figures use the Census as a baseline and show the net change in the dwelling stock in England between the 1 April and the 31 March the following year. Figures for 2011-12 to 2020-21 have been previously revised, as scheduled, to calibrate to the Census 2021 dwelling count. For details see the Technical Notes.

The ‘net additional dwelling’ figures are based on local authority estimates of gains and losses of dwellings during each year and are calculated using the most comprehensive list of sources available. This includes the council tax base, building control, site visits and any other management information available to the local authority.

‘Net additional dwellings’ is the primary and most comprehensive measure of total housing supply.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) also publishes a quarterly release titled Housing supply: indicators of new supply, which cover the building control reported estimates of new build dwellings as well as estimates of housing supply using other additional sources. The indicators of new supply release should be regarded as a leading indicator of overall housing supply.

Our interactive dashboard illustrates results and historical trends.

3. Trends in net additional dwellings

As can be seen from Figure 1 and Table 1 below, net additional dwellings reached a previous peak of 223,530 in 2007-08 and then decreased to 130,610 in 2012-13 with the economic downturn. Since then, net additions have increased to a peak of 248,590 in 2019-20, before falling to 217,750 in 2020-21, the lowest level for 5 years. This decrease may be due, in part, to the restrictions introduced during Spring 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023-24, net additions were 221,070, a 6% decrease on 2022-23^{[footnote 3]}.

Net additional dwellings in 2023-24 are 11% below their 2019-20 peak and are 69% above their 2012-13 trough.

The 221,070 net additional dwellings in 2023-24 represents a 0.9% increase on the previous dwelling stock estimate of 25.4 million dwellings in England as at 31 March 2023.

Figure 1. Trends in net additional dwellings, England, 2001-02 to 2023-24

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Table 1. Net additional dwellings, England, 1991-92 to 2023-24^{[footnote 3]},^{[footnote 4]}

Financial Year	Net Additional Dwellings	Percentage change from previous year
1991-92	165,000
1992-93	151,000	-8%
1993-94	152,000	1%
1994-95	166,000	9%
1995-96	163,000	-2%
1996-97	154,000	-6%
1997-98	156,000	1%
1998-99	149,000	-4%
1999-00	148,000	-1%
2000-01	132,000	-11%
2001-02	146,700	11%
2002-03	159,880	9%
2003-04	170,970	7%
2004-05	185,550	9%
2005-06	202,650	9%
2006-07	214,940	6%
2007-08	223,530	4%
2008-09	182,770	-18%
2009-10	144,870	-21%
2010-11	137,390	-5%
2011-12	140,780	2%
2012-13	130,610	-7%
2013-14	142,490	9%
2014-15	176,580	24%
2015-16	195,530	11%
2016-17	223,230	14%
2017-18	228,170	2%
2018-19	247,770	9%
2019-20	248,590	0%
2020-21	217,750	-12%
2021-22	234,460	8%
2022-23	234,290	0%
2023-24	221,070	-6%

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4. Components of net additional dwellings

The annual net change in the dwelling stock breaks down as follows:

• New house building completions

• Gains or losses through conversions (for example, a house into flats)

• Changes of use (for example, a shop into a house or a barn conversion)

• Demolitions and

• Other changes to the dwelling stock (caravans, houseboats, etc)

Further details are available in the Technical Notes.

As can be seen from Figure 2 and Table 2 below, in 2023-24, the 198,610 new build completions accounted for 90% of the net change, the 21,590 additional dwellings resulting from change of use accounted for 10% of the net change, the 4,360 conversions accounted for 2% of the net change and the 1,900 other gains accounted for 1% of the net change. The loss of 5,390 demolitions accounted for -2% of the net change.

Since 2015-16, new data have been collected on dwellings from change of use under ‘permitted development rights’ making it easier to change buildings to residential use. Since 2022-23, new data have been collected on dwellings from change of use under ‘permitted development rights’ from commercial, business and service use. In 2023-24, the 21,590 additional dwellings resulting from change of use included 8,825 through permitted development rights. These comprised 6,695 office to residential, 564 agricultural to residential, 99 storage to residential, 62 light industrial to residential, 803 commercial, business and service use to residential, 572 any other to residential and 30 unspecified to residential.

Since 2020-21, new data have been collected on dwellings from new build under ‘permitted development rights’. In 2023-24, the 198,610 new build dwellings included 767 through permitted development rights.

Since 2020-21, new data have been collected on demolitions under ‘permitted development rights’. In 2023-24, the loss of 5,390 dwellings under demolitions included 22 through permitted development rights.

Figure 2. Components of net additional dwellings, England, 2023-24

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Table 2. Components of net additional dwellings, England, 2022-23^{[footnote 3]} to 2023-24^{[footnote 5]}

Components of net housing supply	2022-23	2023-24	Change
New build completions	212,360	198,610	-13,750
Of which under permitted development right - Building upwards to create dwelling houses on detached blocks of flats	35	31	-4
Of which under permitted development right - Building upwards to create dwelling houses on detached commercial or mixed-use buildings	0	38	38
Of which under permitted development right - Building upwards to create dwelling houses on commercial or mixed-use buildings in a terrace	0	0	0
Of which under permitted development right - Building upwards to create dwelling houses on dwelling houses in a terrace	0	0	0
Of which under permitted development right - Building upwards to create dwelling houses on detached dwelling houses	0	0	0
Of which under permitted development right - Demolition of buildings and construction of dwelling houses	0	0	0
Of which under permitted development right - Unspecified (new build)	159	698	539
Of which under permitted development right - Total (new build)	194	767	573
Net conversions	4,500	4,360	-150
Net change of use	22,280	21,590	-690
Of which under permitted development right - Agricultural to residential	598	564	-34
Of which under permitted development right - Office to residential	7,963	6,695	-1,268
Of which under permitted development right - Storage to residential	66	99	33
Of which under permitted development right - Light industrial use to residential	108	62	-46
Of which under permitted development right - Commercial, business and service use to residential	454	803	349
Of which under permitted development right - Any other	424	572	148
Of which under permitted development right - Unspecified (change of use)	15	30	15
Of which under permitted development right - Total (change of use)	9,628	8,825	-803
Net other gains	710	1,900	1,190
Demolitions	5,570	5,390	-180
Of which under permitted development right - Demolitions	5	22	17
Total net additional dwellings	234,290	221,070	-13,220

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As can be seen from Figure 3 below, in 2023-24, net additions from new builds decreased by 6%, net additions from conversions decreased by 3%, net additions from change of use decreased by 3%, net additions from other gains increased by 167% and losses from demolitions decreased by 3% from 2022-23.

Figure 3. Time series of the components of net additional dwellings, England, 2006-07 to 2023-24

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5. Local authority figures

As can be seen from Figure 4 (left) below, net additions per 1,000 dwellings in 2023-24 varied across England.  Areas with high levels of net additions per 1,000 dwellings are geographically varied. The highest three net additions rates per 1,000 of the stock were in Preston, Newham and South Derbyshire. Areas with low levels of net additions per 1,000 dwellings are also geographically varied. Aside from the City of London and the Isles of Scilly (which have a low level of residential dwelling stock) and Castle Point (which has negative net additions in 2023-24 as it is removing caravans from the Thorney Bay site to make way for more new additional homes at the Thorney Bay/Sandy Bay site in future years) the lowest three net additions rates per 1,000 of the stock were in Bromley, Richmond upon Thames, and Plymouth. London presents a mixed picture, with 5 of the top 50 net addition rates per 1,000 dwellings and 10 of the lowest 50 net addition rates.

As can be seen from Figure 4 (right) below, changes in the level of net additional dwellings between 2022-23 and 2023-24 also varied across England, increasing in 125 out of 296 authorities. The geographic spread of increases and decreases is mixed. In London, 16 out of 33 London Boroughs have experienced an increase.

Figure 4. Net additions per 1,000 dwellings^{[footnote 6]} (left) and change from previous year (right), by each English local authority district, 2023-24

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6. Regional figures

The region with the highest level of net additions per 1,000 dwellings in 2023-24 was the East of England, while the lowest was in the North East, as can be seen from Figure 5 below.

The East of England also had the highest level of net additions per 1,000 dwellings in 2022-23, with London previously having the highest level of net additions per 1,000 dwellings in each year from 2018-19 to 2021-22. The North East has consistently shown the lowest level of net additions per 1,000 dwellings in each year since 2017-18, with the exception of 2022-23 when Yorkshire and The Humber had the lowest level.

Figure 5. Time series of net additions per 1,000 dwellings^{[footnote 6]} by English region, 2001-02 to 2023-24

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7. Communal accommodation

This publication includes separate data on additions and losses from the stock of communal accommodation. These figures are not included in the main net additions figures. Communal accommodation is distinguished from the dwellings in the main net additions figures as it does not provide self-contained household spaces with kitchens and bathrooms. Communal accommodation, thus defined, does not include ‘student or other cluster flats’ which are included in the main net additional dwellings figures. Each cluster flat typically has several bedrooms and shared and cooking and living space behind a lockable door. Communal accommodation, however, has a number of individual bedrooms sharing communal facilities such as a refectory or lounge. Further details are available in the Technical Notes.

Figures for communal accommodation are split into ‘student’ and ‘other’ communal accommodation. Student communal accommodation is the traditional ‘student hall’ style with many student rooms and a single refectory. Other communal accommodation includes care homes or hostels where rooms are arranged along corridors with one or more communal sitting and dining rooms.

As can be seen from Table 3 below, in 2023-24, there was a net change of 160 student communal accommodation units and a net change of 350 other communal accommodation units, bringing the total net change to 510 communal accommodation units.

Table 3. Components of communal accommodation^{[footnote 7]}, England, 2022-23^{[footnote 3]} to 2023-24^{[footnote 5]}

Components of communal accommodation	2022-23	2023-24	Change
Student gain (CTU)	1,110	280	-840
Student loss (CTU)	20	120	100
Student net change (CTU)	1,090	160	-940
Other gain (CTU)	630	640	10
Other loss (CTU)	230	290	60
Other net change (CTU)	400	350	-50
Total net change (CTU)	1,490	510	-980

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8. Comparison with affordable housing supply

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) also publishes an annual statistical release titled Affordable Housing Supply which is the primary and most comprehensive measure of affordable housing supply.

As can be seen from Figure 6 below, in 2023-24, there were 62,290 affordable homes delivered, representing an estimated 28% of the total number of new additions to the housing stock (i.e. excluding demolitions). This proportion has varied considerably since 2006-07, with a peak of 40% in 2010-11 and a trough of 16% in 2015-16.

Figure 6. Time series of affordable housing and all new housing additions, England, 2006-07 to 2023-24

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9. Accompanying tables and open data

9.1 Tables

Accompanying tables are available to download alongside this release.

9.2 Open data

These statistics are available in fully open and linkable data formats at Open Data Communities.

10. Technical notes

Please see the accompanying Technical Notes for further details.

11. Enquiries

Media enquiries:

Office hours:  0303 444 1209        

Email: NewsDesk@communities.gov.uk

Public enquiries and Responsible Statistician: Neil Higgins

Email: housing.statistics@communities.gov.uk

Information on Official Statistics is available via the UK Statistics Authority website.

Information about statistics at MHCLG is available via the Department’s website.

1. National Statistics are accredited official statistics. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. Please see the Office for Statistics Regulation website for further details. ↩

2. Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to. You are welcome to contact us directly with any comments about how we meet these standards. Alternatively, you can contact OSR by emailing regulation@statistics.gov.uk or via the OSR website. ↩

3. The 2022-23 figures have been revised from 234,400 to 234,290 due to 74 local authorities submitting revised data in accordance with the published scheduled revisions policy. Figures for 2011-12 to 2020-21 have been previously revised, as scheduled, to calibrate to the Census 2021 dwelling count. Figures for 2023-24 are provisional and subject to revision. For details see the Technical Notes. ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. From 2000-01 all local authorities submitted data to the Department through the Housing Flows Reconciliation form. Figures from 1990-91 to 1999-2000 are annual differences from the Department’s Dwelling Stock Estimates Live Table 104. For further details see the Technical Notes. ↩

5. Totals may not equal the sum of component parts due to rounding to the nearest 10. ↩ ↩²

6. To show housing supply in proportion to the size of each local authority district, we divide the net additions in the year by the existing dwelling stock. The result is multiplied by 1,000 to give a figure that is easier to interpret. For example, a region with 570 net additional dwellings over the previous year where there are 100,000 dwellings would give a value of 5.7 net additional dwellings per thousand of existing stock and would therefore be shaded in light blue in the coloured map. Rates of net additions are not uniform across England and can vary considerably between local authority areas. ↩ ↩²

7. The number of communal accommodation units corresponds to the number of council tax valuation listings for the accommodation as described on the Valuation Office Agency website. Figures from 2015-16 have also been collected in the communal accommodation units of bedspaces and are published in Live Table 124b. Figures for previous years are available, however, these are not directly comparable (as London figures previously referred to the number of bedrooms provided, rather than council tax valuation listings). The Greater London Authority were unable to provide communal accommodation in council tax listings units for London Boroughs for 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 by the data collection deadline but did provide communal accommodation data for 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 in bedspace units, published in Live Table 124b. ↩