Annual housing starts in England fell to 105,000 in 2008, 37% down on 2007 and 43% below their 2005 – 06 peak according to the latest government statistics from CLG. There were 16,300 housing starts in England in the final quarter of 2008, 27% down on the previous quarter, and a 58% year on year drop. Private starts plummeted 64% in the quarter against 2007’s figures, whilst starts by registered social landlords dipped 5%. However RSLs saw a 10% rise in housing completions in the quarter ending December 2008, against the same period the previous year – private completions dropped 32%. <br><br>NHBC’s year end housebuilding statistics painted a similar picture for the industry, with applications to start new homes down by almost half during last year compared to 2007 – 106,894 against 2007’s 200,697. Private starts accounted for 72,114 against the previous year’s 163,535, amounting to a 56% decline. On prices there were some conflicting reports last month. Nationwide’s national house price index showed house prices falling 16.6% over 2008, dipping 1.3% in January. <br><br>The average house price stood at £150,501, but Nationwide’s three-month on three-month change, seen as a smoother indicator of short-term house price trends, improved for the …