<p>Brownfield development is at an all-time high, with 73% of new homes now on previously developed land. The latest statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) show that average densities are also up, now standing at 42 dwellings per hectare. The market is also showing positive signs of a pick-up, with housing volumes and prices on the rise, according to the DCLG. </p> <p>Private housing starts in England in the first quarter stand at 43,500 – up 17.6% on 2005 levels, and when seasonally adjusted, the highest number of private starts in a single quarter since 2000.</p>