The figures, published today by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), show that 136,610 new homes were created between April 2013 and March 2014.
Of these, 130,340 were new build homes, with the rest conversions and changes of use, while 12,060 homes were lost through demolitions.
The total figure is 10 per cent higher than the 2012/13 figure of 124,720 new homes, and the highest figure for three years, since 2010/11.
It is also the first year to show a net increase in new homes since 2008.
But the figure is still 39 per cent below that 2007/08 pre-recession peak when 223,530 new homes were created.
A regional breakdown shows that the City of London, Cambridge and the London Borough of Newham have the top three rates for net additional homes per 1,000 dwellings in the country
Other districts with high new homes rates include Wychavon in Worcestershire, Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire and Bedford.
Areas with low levels of new homes as a proportion are found in rural areas of the north, the West Midlands and the south and east coasts, particularly in Lancashire and the Peak District National Park.
In a statement, the DCLG said the figures showed the highest percentage increase in 12 years, and meant the coalition government has delivered 530,000 new homes since 2010.
It added that in the past 12 months, planning permission has been granted for 230,000 new homes
Housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis said: "I’m determined that we do all we can to get the country building and help hard-working people into home ownership.
"Today’s figures show how our efforts are delivering real results, with the net supply of new homes up 10 per cent over the past year and over half a million new homes delivered since 2010."
The figures can be found here.
