Annual housing starts in England dropped 9% over the year to September 2012, according to DCLG statistics.<br> <br> Private annual housebuilding starts slipped 5% to 80,040 over the period against the year to September 2011, with public housing starts down 23% to 16,810.<br> <br> This continues the trend of annual falls seen throughout the year.<br> <br> Quarter-on-quarter, (seasonally adjusted) total starts rose 18%. Private housebuilding starts increased 15% in the July to September quarter against the previous quarter – the first quarterly increase seen this year. Public housing experienced a 23% lift.