Housing corporations completed some 8,200 new homes in the first six months of this year, a sharp rise on the 6,300 completions in the same period in 2023, according to new figures from national statistics agency CBS.

But the total number of new homes – 32,700 – which were completed during the 2024 first half is down slightly on 2023 and highlights the continued downturn in investment by the private sector.

The figures don’t include new homes created by dividing up existing buildings or transforming offices and other buildings into residential properties.

The new government has adopted the previous administration’s target of building 100,000 new homes a year to meet the current shortfall.

Housing corporation developments are almost entirely rent-controlled and only available for people on low incomes.