The latest figures from NHBC indicate that house building remains on a slightly muted but overall steady keel, with completions dulled but regional increases noted outside of London
Figures released today by the National House Building Council (NHBC), the UK’s largest provider of new home warranty and insurance, show 104,232 new homes were registered to be built in 2024, broadly in line with 2023 (105,071). 124,144 new homes were completed in the same period, 7% down on 2023 (133,611).
Private sector registrations were up 11% to 68,987, compared to 62,291 in 2023. In the rental and affordable sector, the cost of remediating existing housing stock constrained development budgets, with registrations down 18% in 2024 to 35,245.
Other key findings include:
- 2024 new home registrations tracking consistently year-on-year
- Signs of growth with private sector registrations up 11% in 2024 vs. 2023
- Second highest rental and affordable completions figure ever recorded
- Total new home completions down 7% in 2024 vs. 2023
Across the UK, seven out of 12 regions saw a rise in registrations in 2024 compared to 2023, with the biggest increases in North West & Merseyside (+17%), West Midlands (+16%) and Scotland (+15%). Registrations were significantly down in London (-48%), linked to financial challenges for housing associations and building safety costs on tall buildings.
Semi-detached homes were the most registered house type in 2024 at 34,778, closely followed by detached homes at 34,706. Year-on-year, there was growth of +16% in detached and +11% in semi-detached homes, while apartments (-29%), bungalows (-11%) and terraced properties (-10%) all experienced a decline, compared to 2023.
Focusing on skills has helped rally the sector
NHBC CEO Steve Wood commented: “While house building activity has remained broadly level with 2023, it is positive to see increased activity in the private sector. Recent announcements from the Chancellor on infrastructure and planning reform are welcome and with easing inflation, there are some encouraging signs for better house building growth conditions in 2025.
“A much greater focus on skills from government has been well received by the industry. NHBC continues to do its part, shaking-up house-building training with a £100m investment in a new national network of multi-skill apprenticeship training hubs. The NHBC hubs will help develop the workforce that will deliver the high quality new homes the country needs.”
Of the 124,144 new homes completed in 2024, 45,824 were in the rental and affordable sector, 2% down on 2023 (46,542) and the second highest figure ever recorded by NHBC. Private sector completions saw a decline of 10% on the previous year (87,069) with 78,320 plots confirmed as ready to be occupied.
Steve Wood, CEO at NHBC explains: “It is encouraging to see a high number of new home completions in the affordable sector. If ambitions in new build housing are to be met, a mix of tenures is essential for accelerating housing delivery. Housing associations and local authorities eagerly await details of new investment in the Spring Spending Review. Private sale will continue to be the largest sector but affordable, social, and private build to rent tenures also need to be significantly scaled up.”
For further information, please see the accompanying data booklet.
