Strong year for public housing, but private housing, infrastructure and other public sectors fall back slightly

New construction orders rose by 10% for the year to August 2006, according to figures released by the DTI.

Public housing and housing association orders for the year rose by 36% although the figure fell in the last three months by 3%.

In the private housing sector orders were down 5% but in the three months to August 2006 they rose by 11%.

Total orders were worth 拢47.5bn for the year although three sectors saw a decrease in orders. Private housing fell 1% for the year; infrastructure by 7% and other public sectors by 7%.