The number of new homes being worked on in Watford reached record levels at the start of the year, figures have revealed.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government data shows work began on 960 homes in the area between January and March – the highest number for the three-month period since records began in 2005.

Work was also completed on a further 50 homes in Watford over the period.

In England, 49,470 homes were completed - the highest number for any quarter in more than 20 years - while work began on 46,010 homes.

A number of sites in Watford are currently under construction including Ascot Road, Sydney Road, and Riverwell, with The Range site in St Albans Road to also definitely be redeveloped.

Although it's a record rise in housebuilding in Watford, the majority of new homes being built in the town are actually flats rather than houses.

The rise in construction in 2021 comes after previous data showed Watford Borough Council had failed to meet its housing targets in recent years.

Results from the Government’s Housing Delivery Test show 874 homes were delivered in Watford between 2017 and 2020, which is just 48 per cent of its target set by central Government.

This week, the council's Cabinet agreed to send its draft local plan off to the Secretary of State for scrutiny.

Related: Watford's Cabinet approves submission of draft local plan

The local plan lists dozens of sites in Watford that the council deems could help meet housing targets of nearly 800 a year over the next 15 years.

While the general concesus locally is residents don't want to see tower blocks or green belt concreted over, the Home Builders Federation says demand for new build homes is extremely strong nationally, and wants to see the Government continuing to invest in the industry.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman, said: "The industry is looking to deliver further increases in supply that have seen output double in recent years.

"As well as addressing the social need for more housing, increasing supply creates jobs, generates investment in local economies and delivers improvements to infrastructure and amenities that benefits both new and existing residents.

"The Government needs to continue to evolve the policy agenda such that the industry can continue to invest in the land and people needed to build the homes the country needs."

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: "It is encouraging to see a continued rise in the number of new homes being built.

"The house building sector has shown extraordinary resilience and the Government has continued to demonstrate its support for the industry throughout the pandemic.

"By enabling construction sites to remain open and operate safely, builders have been able deliver the homes this country needs as we build back better from the pandemic."