Housing facts and figures 2004/2005 to 2021

Scales and types of developments

The following section provides figures pertaining to the kind of schemes through which homes were approved and delivered, in terms of scale, building typology and development type. The figures include:

• 5.1) the number of homes approved on minor developments
• 5.2) the number of homes delivered on minor developments
• 5.3 the type of development type homes have been delivered through
• 5.4) the proportion of flats, maisonettes to houses across developments

5.1 Number of homes approved on minor developments

Situated in inner London with high land value, Southwark delivers new homes mainly through large developments and strategic sites. However, minor development (creating one to nine units) remains a significant source of housing delivery and potential affordable housing contribution due to the considerable quantity of homes it creates. The table below shows that 6,860 (gross) and 5,567 (net) homes were approved on minor developments, contributing to 457 and 371 units approved per year.

Table 15 - Gross and net approved minor developments

5.2 Number of homes completed on minor developments

In terms of completions, 4,970 (gross) and 4,065 (net) homes were delivered through minor developments over the 16-year period, where the net completed units accounted for 16% of overall new additional homes across all developments (Table 16 and 17). In some years such as 2008/2009, 2012/2013, 2014/2015, 2017/2018, minor developments contributed as much as one-fourth of the net total housing delivery.

Table 16 - Gross and net completed minor developments

Table 17 - Net completed units by scheme size

5.3 Source of new homes – types of development

The majority of new self-contained homes delivered through the planning system were new-build, accounting for 84% (gross) and 91% (net) of all new homes completed during the 19-year period (Table 18 and 19). Units created from the “other” were a combination of two or more above development types.

Table 18 - Source of new homes - types of development (gross completions)

Table 19 - Source of new homes - types of development (net completions)

5.4 Proportion of flats and houses completed

Over the 16-year reporting period, 96% of the new homes built were flats, maisonettes, studios or bedsit units or live/work units, representing 24,512 new homes. The remaining 4% (over 1,077 units) of the total were new houses, each with their own front door on the ground floor and their own roof.  

Table 20 - Net completion breakdown of flats and houses

Page last updated: 13 March 2024