England New Home Building Starts Rise Annually but Fall Quarter on Quarter
The latest official housing supply figures show a mixed picture for new home construction in England. More new homes were started during the first quarter of 2026 than during the same period in 2025, but activity fell compared with the final quarter of 2025.
What Are New Home Starts and Completions?
A new home start is recorded when construction work begins on a dwelling. A new home completion is recorded when the property has been finished and is ready for occupation.
Simple explanation: Starts indicate how many new homes are entering construction, while completions indicate how many newly built homes may soon become available for buyers, renters or housing providers.
Latest New Home Construction Figures for England
Between January and March 2026, an estimated 33,960 new homes were started in England on a seasonally adjusted basis.
| Housing Measure | Q1 2026 Total | Quarterly Change | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| New home starts | 33,960 | Down 9% | Up 18% |
| New home completions | 37,170 | Up 1% | Up 3% |
This means construction started on more homes than during the same quarter in 2025, although fewer projects began than during the previous three months. Completions showed a smaller but more stable annual increase.
Why Should the Starts Figures Be Read Carefully?
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government explains that the higher number of starts reported during late 2025 and early 2026 was partly influenced by increased reporting from the Building Safety Regulator.
The Building Safety Regulator reported 6,276 starts in Q1 2026. Before late 2025, the highest number it had reported in one quarter was 1,206. This change means that part of the annual increase may reflect reporting and regulatory changes as well as additional construction activity.
Important context: Quarterly building control figures are useful indicators of current construction trends, but they are not the complete measure of housing supply in England. The annual net additional dwellings statistics provide the most comprehensive measure.
Why Did New Home Starts Peak in 2023?
New home starts reached an unusually high level during the second quarter of 2023. Many developers may have brought construction work forward before new building standards took effect on 15 June 2023.
These standards included updated requirements relating to:
- Energy performance in new homes
- Carbon emission reductions
- Electric vehicle charging points
The early start of some developments created a temporary increase during Q2 2023, followed by lower figures in later quarters. This makes direct comparisons with the 2023 peak less useful when assessing the current new build housing market.
What Do These Figures Mean for Buyers?
- Future new build supply: More starts may eventually lead to more homes becoming available, but construction can take months or years.
- Local availability may differ: National figures do not show what is happening within an individual town, borough or development.
- Completions matter: A construction start does not guarantee that a home will become available quickly. Completion figures provide a better indication of homes reaching the market.
- Buyer choice may improve gradually: An increase in completed homes can create additional options, but demand, location and property type will continue to affect prices.
- New build research remains important: Buyers should check development plans, estimated completion dates, warranties, service charges, estate charges and any incentives offered by the developer.
What Do These Figures Mean for Renters?
Additional completed homes may support rental supply when properties are delivered for private rent, housing associations or local authorities. However, the effect on local rents depends on the type, location and affordability of the homes being completed.
Quick Summary
- England recorded 33,960 seasonally adjusted new home starts in Q1 2026.
- Starts were 9% lower than Q4 2025 but 18% higher than Q1 2025.
- England recorded 37,170 new home completions during Q1 2026.
- Completions increased by 1% quarterly and 3% annually.
- Changes in Building Safety Regulator reporting affected the latest starts figures.
- The figures apply to England and should not be presented as UK-wide housing statistics.
Simple takeaway
New home starts in England increased compared with last year but fell compared with the previous quarter. Completions also improved slightly, suggesting gradual rather than rapid growth in new housing supply.
Official source: GOV.UK Housing Supply Indicators for England, January to March 2026