The number of affordable homes delivered with funds from Homes England and the Greater London Authority has dropped for the first time in five years.
There were some 36,036 affordable homes completed last year, compared to 36,259 a year earlier and consistent rises in the previous years, new figures for the year ended 31 March reveal.
While the number of shared-ownership and social-rented affordable homes inched up, rising 8% and 56% respectively, the biggest drop was in affordable rented homes, which typically makes up over half the homes, falling 11% year-on-year.
Homes England delivered 28,261 affordable homes, down 1% on last year and making up 78% of the total affordable homes.
It also completed 12,191 private market homes, an increase of 5% on last year.
Of the total affordable homes, some 24% were in the South East, 22% in London and 16% in the South West.
Figures for new affordable housing starts show greater progress getting on site with new homes.
There were 53,065 new affordable starts in 2019-20, up 18% on the previous year.
Shared-ownership has become the most popular tenure for new starts, contributing the bulk of new homes for the first time on record.
There were some 19,194 new affordable ownership homes, making up 36% of new starts, with a further 35% affordable rented homes, 12% London affordable rent and 6% social-rented.
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