…have not translated this news into higher build numbers

Despite profit increases, a report shows that many large builders have not translated this news into higher build numbers.

Industry figures have called for action on house building after an analysis of results from eight of the UK’s biggest house builders showed that big profit increases have not been matched by higher build rates.

An analysis by Building of the most recent full-year results from the eight major publicly listed housebuilders, shows that while pre-tax profits rose by 161% in 2011 to £556m on the previous year, the number of homes built increased by just 3% to 45,018. Operating profits also rose 47% over the same period.

The analysis comes amid deepening concern over the rate of house building in the UK, with the latest government figures for the period from January to March showing the number of housing starts fell 11% to 24,140 on the previous quarter – a drop of 15% on the same period in 2011.