<p>Annual housebuilding starts in England in 2012 totalled 98,280, an 11% drop against the previous year, according to the latest data from the Department for Communities and Local Government.</p> <p><br> Private starts over the 12-month period to December 2012 fell 8% to 79,700 against the equivalent period in 2011, whilst public housing starts dropped 23% to 17,130.</p> <p><br> Meanwhile, completions year-on-year rose 1% to 115,620, with private sector completions rising 3% to 89,010 and public sector starts dipping 2% to 25,310.</p> <p><br> In the December quarter of 2012, starts rose 1% to 26,830 against the previous quarter. Private housing starts climbed 2% to 21,600, whilst public sector start numbers fell 10% to 4,570.</p> <p><br> Overall completions in the December quarter were 2% higher, numbering 27,890. The rise was again led again by private housing which saw a 5% increase to 22,270. Meanwhile, public housing starts dropped 5% to 5,420 against the previous quarter.<br> </p>