Some 28,724 new homes were registered to be built in Q3 2024, up 40% on Q3 2023.

The figures are compiled by the National Home Building Council, with its chief executive Steve Wood saying:“Our latest quarter’s figures show that new home registrations are holding steady with some signs of increased activity on site and an emerging mood of cautious optimism amongst house builders.

“A further uplift in registrations is needed to move us towards the Government’s 1.5m new homes target, with this dependent on continued easing of interest rates and a rise in confidence amongst consumers and investors. The funding pledged by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in her first Autumn Budget was welcomed and should, over time, have a positive impact on housing supply.”

Across the UK, 10 out of 12 regions saw a rise in registrations in Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2023, with the biggest increases in the South East (+84%), North West and Merseyside (+81%) and the North East (+78%). 

Registrations were down in London (-50%) and Northern Ireland (-29%).

There were 19,879 private sector registrations in Q3 2024, up a substantial 58% on 2023.  The rental and affordable sector saw more modest increases, with 8,845 registrations in Q3 2024, up 12% on Q3 2023 (7,866).

Wood explains: “Private sector registrations experienced something of an uplift in Q3, up 58% compared to the previous year. 

“Rental and affordable registrations were also up, by 12%, but this belies challenging conditions for housing associations where capital budgets are focused on the remediation and retrofit of existing stock, alongside high spends on temporary housing.

“With house builders cautiously optimistic about growth prospects, we anticipate an upward trajectory for new home registrations in 2025, but with the health warning that the stubborn barriers in the planning system and around skills shortages must be tackled.”