Between 2021 and 2022, Barratt Developments was the company with the largest housing turnover in the United Kingdom. Taylor Wimpey was the second company in the ranking, with a housebuilding revenue of *** billion British pounds. In fourth place, Bellway generated a revenue of *** billion British pounds in 2022. However, that only refers to the turnover that those companies generated from housing activities. What is the outlook for the UK's home construction market? Although housing construction was expected to stagnate in 2024, over the coming years the number of homes built is expected to rise at a quick pace. The projected growth of housing starts in the UK is anticipated to be **** percent higher in 2028 than in 2024. A rise in construction starts would be a good sign for the market, as there is a high demand for housing which, along with other factors, has fostered increasingly higher house prices in the UK during the past years. Who are the leading home builders in the U.S.? The market size of the home building industry in the United States is even bigger than in the UK. In 2023, Miami-based Lennar Corp. and the Texas-based D.R. Horton were the largest homebuilders in the U.S. with a revenue of over ** billion U.S. dollars. Other builders, such as PulteGroup, Toll Brothers, and NVR were also prominent players in the residential construction industry, with much higher revenue figures than their UK counterparts. The value of new residential construction in the U.S. rose significantly from 2019 to 2022 despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching about *** billion U.S. dollars. However, the market is expected to decrease until 2025, which could impact the revenues of these home builders.

Starts and completions of new build dwellings in the UK, on a quarterly and annual basis, time series data

Over **** of SME house builders in England considered that the planning system was one of the main constraints hindering them from building more homes in 2024. Also ** of respondents considered that the lack of financially viable land was a constraint, while ** percent of English house builders also mentioned the lack of available and viable land as one of their main challenges.

Between 2021 and 2022, Barratt Developments was the house building company with the most units sold in the United Kingdom. Persimmon, the second company on the list, sold approximately 14,550 units in 2021. Bellway, which landed at fourth place in the ranking, sold 11,200 units in 2022. Those companies were also among the UK homebuilders with the largest revenues in 2021.

Residential building contractors are contingent on the propensity of property developers to invest in new ventures; movements in property prices; government schemes intended to boost the housing supply; and underlying sentiment in the housing market. Industry contractors have endured turbulent operating conditions over the past five years, leading to volatile shifts in revenue and profitability. Revenue is forecast to grow at a compound annual rate of 1% over the five years through 2024-25, reaching £97.4 billion. The pandemic caused a significant drop in output in 2020-21, as restrictions placed on on-site activity and fewer enquiries for new housing units reduced revenue opportunities. Aided by government support for the housing market and the release of pent-up demand, 2021-22 was characterised by a strong rebound in activity, though materials and labour shortages maintained constraints on output. Mounting supply chain disruption and heightened economic uncertainty maintained pressure on output in the following year, though revenue growth was maintained by growth in average selling prices. Interest rate hikes and inflationary pressures led to a more subdued housing market in 2022-23, holding back the number of housing starts and completions during the year. This was followed by a slump in new residential building construction in the following year, as high borrowing costs and uncertain market conditions caused developers to scale back investment plans. Revenue is set to grow by 1.5% in 2024-25, aided by a slight improvement in new orders for residential building construction and an uptick in average selling prices. Revenue is slated to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.5% to reach £105.1 billion over the five years through 2029-30. Housebuilding activity is set to grow in the medium-term, aided by the release of pent-up demand. Nonetheless, significant uncertainty remains, with mortgage rates likely to settle well-above pre-pandemic levels and supply chains remaining fragile. The new government’s pledge to deliver 1.5 million houses during the first five years of parliament will boost demand for industry contractors, though the full impact of this on growth prospects is dependent on the nature and extent of accompanying funding plans.

Number of Businesses statistics on the Residential Building Construction industry in the UK

The number of housing units whose construction started in Wales in 2023 was over three times higher than in 2020. The source did not provide data for 2021. Overall, the number of housing starts has decreased a lot between 2000 and 2020. Wales was the country with the lowest number of housing completions per capita in Great Britain.

The Residential Construction Market Report is Segmented by Type (Villas and Landed Houses and Condominiums and Apartments) and Key Cities (London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, and the Rest of the UK). The Report Offers Market Size and Forecasts for UK Residential Construction Market in Value (USD) for all the Above Segments.

The UK residential building construction industry, valued at approximately £185.55 million in 2025, is projected to experience moderate growth, with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.26% from 2025 to 2033. This growth is fueled by several factors. Increased urbanization and population growth in key cities like London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Liverpool are driving demand for new housing, particularly within the villas and landed houses, and condominiums and apartments segments. Government initiatives aimed at addressing housing shortages and improving infrastructure also contribute positively. However, the market faces constraints including fluctuating material costs, skilled labor shortages, and potential economic downturns which could impact investment and consumer confidence. The industry is highly competitive, with major players such as Willmott Dixon Holdings, Mace, Skanska UK, and Balfour Beatty vying for market share. These companies leverage expertise in project management, sustainable construction practices, and innovative technologies to remain competitive. The geographical distribution of projects varies, with London and other major cities expected to dominate, but regional growth will be influenced by local economic conditions and availability of land. The industry's future trajectory will depend on addressing these challenges effectively while capitalizing on the opportunities presented by population growth and government support. The construction sector's performance is closely tied to broader economic health. Interest rate fluctuations and changes in mortgage availability directly influence consumer purchasing power, impacting housing demand. Environmental regulations and a growing emphasis on sustainable building practices are reshaping the industry, promoting the adoption of eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs. This trend aligns with broader societal concerns regarding climate change and resource management, impacting material sourcing and project specifications. Competition is likely to intensify as established firms consolidate and new entrants emerge, particularly those specializing in sustainable and technological innovations. Strategic partnerships and mergers and acquisitions will play a significant role in shaping the competitive landscape, leading to increased efficiency and potentially improved capacity to manage the industry's challenges and capitalize on its growth opportunities. Recent developments include: December 2022: 375 low-carbon rental homes are delivered as part of a historic restoration project for Bristol City Center through public-private partnerships., December 2022: As the One Sydney Harbour residential building from Lendlease celebrates a critical milestone of "topping out" of Residences One, marking the completion of the highest structural point of the 72-story tower, it has secured more than $3.7 billion in sales over its three towers.. Key drivers for this market are: 4., Growth in Commercial Activities and Increased Competition4.; Increasing Demand for Affordable Housing Units. Potential restraints include: 4., Lack of Housing Spaces and Mortgage Regulation can Create Challenges. Notable trends are: Government mandates pertaining to Energy Efficiency.

Time-series data on starts and completions of new build dwellings in English regions on a quarterly basis (now produced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as Table 217).

Time series data on starts and completions of new build dwellings in local authorities across the UK, on an annual basis.

Repair and maintenance of private homes was the segment of residential construction with the highest annual growth rate in 2023. Meanwhile, new private and public housing construction increased by over five percent that year.

Several of the largest new residential construction projects in the United Kingdom with a construction start date in 2025 were found in London. The Planned Investment and Major Works Programme in London was valued at 1.02 billion British pounds. The housing construction market in London London is one of the best-known cities in the world. It is an important financial and economic centre, accounting for the highest share of GDP out of all the regions in the UK. It is also home to the West-End and the British Museum, and it boasts a vibrant cultural life. The economic importance and popularity of the city are some of the factors fostering a high demand for housing construction in London. In addition to the 14,270 housing starts in London in 2023/24, there was also a similar volume of housing completions. In comparison, the number of private housing starts in the UK as was estimated to be 135,000 in 2024. House repairs in the UK Housing repair and maintenance was one of the segments with the highest market shares in the UK construction industry. Meanwhile, new private housing construction represented 18 percent of the construction market in the country in 2024. The revenue of housing repair and maintenance in Great Britain has been increasing at a fast pace in the past years.

Housing Starts in the United Kingdom decreased to 28180 units in the first quarter of 2025 from 31030 units in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Housing Starts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

UK Residential Construction Market size was valued at USD 30.00 Billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 60.00 Billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 9% from 2026-2032.

UK Residential Construction Market: Definition/ Overview

Residential construction refers to the process of building homes, apartments, and other dwellings for individuals or families. It involves various stages such as planning, design, site preparation, and the actual construction of the structure. The application of residential construction is essential in meeting the growing demand for housing due to population growth, urbanization, and economic development.

In the future, the industry is expected to embrace new technologies like sustainable building materials, smart home systems, and modular construction to create more energy-efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly homes, making it a key player in addressing housing challenges.

The financial and operational success of property development markets depends on a range of socio-economic factors, such as property values, market sentiment and credit conditions. Building project developers' revenue is forecast to slide at a compound annual rate of 3.2% to £35.8 billion over the five years through 2024-25. The economic shock caused by the pandemic had a devastating impact on property development market in 2020-21. Severe supply chain and market disruption caused sentiment to wane and transaction activity fell, while property values initially depreciated and rental fee income stalled. Revenue rebounded in 2021-22, aided by low interest rates, house price inflation and a stronger than anticipated initial economic recovery from the pandemic. Nonetheless, revenue remained below pre-pandemic levels as growth was hindered by a further net deficit on revaluation of assets and lower rental income in office and brick-and-mortar retail markets. The fallout from the pandemic has caused developers to re-align investment towards lower-risk real estate markets which are likely to be more resilient to price shocks. Inaflationary pressures and rising interest rates spurred a further hit to portfolio valuations, discouraging developers from pursuing new developments. Revenue is forecast to grow by 2.5% in the current year, as interest rate cuts spur renewed growth in property values. Revenue is slated to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.3% to reach £38.2 billion over the five years through 2029-30. Following recent interest rate cuts, more stable economic conditions are set to continue to support improved sentiment in the near-term, spurring developers to pursue new ventures. Opportunities for growth are set to be most prominent in high-yield office markets and the technology sector, with growing use of artificial intelligence set to drive demand for the development and construction of data centres. Loosened planning policy is set to drive momentum in residential real estate markets, though more will need to be done for the government to achieve ambitious housebuilding targets.

In 2024, London had the highest housing construction costs for residential buildings in the United Kingdom. The expense of building an apartment high-rise in the UK's capital amounted to ***** British pounds per square meter of internal area, while the cost of townhouses were ***** British pounds per square meter. Manchester was the second city on the list with the highest residential construction costs.

Total number of housing completions (seasonally adjusted)

How the figure is calculated:

Total housing completions are reported by local authority and private building control organisations after the end of each quarter. A completion is counted when a dwelling is ready for habitation. The figures are seasonally adjusted to allow comparisons with previous quarters.

Why is this indicator in the business plan?

Increasing the supply of housing is a key part of DCLG policy. The house building figures are the most frequent and timely indicator of housing delivery.

How often is it updated?

Quarterly

Where does the data come from?

P2 quarterly house building returns by local authority building control departments; monthly information from the National House Building Council (NHBC) on the volume of building control inspections; and a quarterly survey of private building control companies. Published figures are at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/house-building-statistics.

What area does the headline figure cover?

England

Are further breakdowns of the data available?

Yes, can be split by local authority area and by tenure

What does a change in this indicator show?

An increase in this indicator is good and shows more new houses are being completed.

Time Lag

Figures are published within two months of the end of the reporting period.

Next available update

May 2015.

Type of Data

National Statistics.

Robustness and data limitations

The P2 figures from local authorities and figures from private building control companies include imputation for a small number of missing returns.

Seasonal factors for the house building time series are re-calculated annually back to 2000. This is usually done in the second quarter of the calendar year. Therefore the seasonally adjusted house building figures throughout the whole period change slightly at that time but are not marked as 'revised'.

Links to Further Information

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/series/house-building-statistics

Contact Details

CorporatePerformance@communities.gsi.gov.uk