Provisional figures from the Department of the Environment show that total housing starts during 1986 reached 204,400, compared with 195,300 in 1985.
Completions were also up, reaching 190,900 in 1986.
On a market breakdown, private sector starts were well up, at 173,700 against 161,800 in 1985, reaching their highest level since the 1973 boom. But in the public sector, construction starts fell yet again to just 30,800.
Private sector completions were also up, reaching 158,500 against 1985’s 149,600, but again the public sector was down, falling over 6,000 to 32,400.
