The number of new homes being built in East Devon has dramatically dropped, government data has revealed.

In total, 620 new properties were completed by private developers and housing associations in 2016/17.

But this is more than 250 homes fewer than were built in 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 – where an average of 836 new properties were finished each year.

In the last decade, a total of 4,690 properties have been built and completed in the district and more than 12,600 new homes were finished across Devon.

A decade ago in 2007/08, only 170 homes were built and completed across East Devon. But, over the following five years, between April 2007 and April 2013, this steadily rose, with 390 new properties being finished in 2012/13.

The number of new homes being completed almost doubled in 2013/14 and 720 new properties were finished. A further 920 were then built in 2014/15 and 870 were finished in 2015/16.

Statistics, revealed in data released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), also found that, in the last 10 years, private developers had built 3,620 new homes in East Devon, while housing associations had completed 1,070 and the district council had built 20.

Across the county, figures showed that 19,800 new properties were built by private developers, 4,200 were constructed by housing associations and 100 by local authorities.

An East Devon District Council (EDDC) spokeswoman said the authority had made land available for ‘affordable’ housing to be built since 2007/08. And, the vast majority of homes were built by private developers, which is how most affordable housing was provided nationally.

She added: “With the new town being developed at Cranbrook, the first homes were being built in the early years of this decade, including new affordable homes and this is among the reasons why there has been a rise and fall in housebuilding.

“The town and other developments in the district will have accounted for a large part.

“There are various reasons why it dropped in 2016/17, ranging from concerns around economic uncertainty to site-specific delivery issues.

“New phases of Cranbrook will soon be opening up and a number of other key sites are now coming forward.

“On a more general level, peaks and troughs in new house building occur anyway and are influenced by many factors such as the economic climate, access to finance, demand etc.”