Perth-based BGC (Australia) is Australia’s largest builder according to the HIA-COLORBOND steel Housing 100 Report for 2009/10. The report, which ranks the nation’s largest 100 residential builders based on the number of homes built each year, revealed the number of housing starts among the largest 100 increased by 22.8% from 49,360 (in 2008/09) to 60,590 in (2009/10). This was the highest number of yearly starts since 2004/05.
BGC (Australia) came in as Australia’s biggest builder with 4392 starts – an increase of 548 on the previous year. In 2009/10 the company built 3836 detached houses and 556 units, and was also the nation’s largest detached house builder.
Alcock/Brown-Neaves Group was ranked second with 3526 starts, while Victorian-based Metricon Homes was ranked third with 3214 housing starts for the year.
Hickory Developments Pty Ltd was the nation’s largest multi-unit builder with 1274 starts, moving up from second spot in 2008/09.
The HOUSING 100 builders held an estimated 38% share of Australia-wide housing starts last financial year, the same share as in 2008/09. The share increased in Victoria and was steady in Queensland and Western Australia. New South Wales and South Australia saw their market share reduce.
“The tripling of the federal First Home Owner’s Grant for new homes, low interest rates and social housing programs saw a relatively strong recovery in housing starts in 2009/10,” said HIA chief economist Dr Harley Dale.
“However, as the positive impact from past stimulus programs unwinds it’s unlikely that we will see further growth in HOUSING 100 and aggregate housing starts in 2010/11,” Dale said.
“While there were 11,230 more homes built by the largest 100 than the previous year, the number of multi-units being built actually fell,” Dr Dale said. “In 2009/10 there were 51,602 detached house starts (up from 39,947) and 8988 starts for flats, units and townhouses (down from 9413).”
“The restriction of finance for residential development presents a big constraint, while the stimulus measures masked the insufficient progress made so far in reducing supply-side obstacles related to land, labour, planning, taxation, and regulation.
“Among other housing policy initiatives, a comprehensive cost reduction program for new housing needs to be a key priority of the Federal Government,” Dale said.
