Major rise in number of homes built in the Black Country
More than 10,500 new homes were built across the West Midlands last year, new figures show.
The 10,640 homes built across the region last year is a seven per cent increase on the number built on 2017, which bucks the national trend of an average increase of zero.
The Black Country saw the biggest increase in the number of homes built in the West Midlands, with the 2,230 constructed last year an 18.4 per cent rise compared to the 1,960 the previous year.
The figures have been praised by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which has pledged to deliver 215,000 new homes across its region by 2031.
Gareth Bradford, the authority's director of housing and regeneration, said there was "still much to do" to reach the target.
He added: "Our economic success and new job creation are driving the demand for new housing across the West Midlands.
“These latest statistics show that we and our partners are making good progress. However, this is only the start and there is still much to do.
“We are working with the local authorities in our area to unlock land and accelerate the delivery of new homes and jobs.
“For example, we are introducing a single framework to distribute £610m of funding quickly and efficiently, helping to speed up developments and, ultimately, the regeneration and growth of our cities and towns.”
As well as a boost in houses being built, the region also recorded a rise in the number of houses being completed, which means they are signed off and ready for people to move in to.
The number of completions rose by 13 per cent to 10,960, including a 40 per cent boost in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership area.
The average increase for housing completions across the UK was one per cent.
