Fewer new houses started construction across the Cumberland council area last year than the year before, new figures show.

Across England, the housebuilding sector has seen a slowdown – with an industry body accusing the Government of "putting short-term politics over the needs of the country" when it comes to building new homes.

Figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities show building commenced on around 460 homes in Cumberland in 2023 – down from 1,040 the year before.

Across England, construction began on 149,000 new homes last year, down from 176,000 in 2022 and 178,000 in 2021.

The second quarter of 2023 saw a jump in new building starts, as developers rushed to beat new environmental regulations introduced last June.

Between April and June, 72,000 new homes were started, about 180 of which were in Cumberland.

But this spike was undone in the second half of the year – July to December saw the smallest number of starts since 2008. Ground was broken for 38,000 new homes, with 60 of them in Cumberland.

Steve Turner, executive director at the Home Builders Federation, blamed the Government's "weakening of the planning system, removal of housing targets and lack of support for buyers" for holding up construction of new homes.

He said: "Despite the acute housing crisis we face, all indicators show further declines in supply ahead – frustrating the housing aspirations of the younger generation and costing thousands of construction workers’ jobs.

"Putting short-term politics over the needs of the country will have long-term consequences for the economy and society, and must be addressed."

The Conservative party promised 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s in its 2019 manifesto – but there was an 11 per cent drop in the number of houses completed in 2023, with 158,000 last year.

Around 350 homes were completed in Cumberland last year, a fall from 740 the year before.

Despite the sharp drop in the number of homes commencing construction in Cumberland, there a number of major projects on the horizon.

The St Cuthbert’s Garden Village will bring 10,000 new homes to the outskirts of the city whilst major developments will bring thousands of new homes throughout Cumbria at places like Whitehaven, Appleby and Brampton.

Green Party parliamentary candidate, Gavin Hawkton, said that he recognised the need for new local housing, but emphasised that upgrades to services are a 'must' to match expanding developments, highlighting doctors’ surgeries, schools, bus services, and cycle networks as critical services requiring enhancement.