‘Cautious optimism’ among house builders as new home registrations rise annually

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. New home registrations are holding steady with some signs of increased activity on site and an emerging mood of cautious optimism amongst house builders Steve Wood, NHBC The report said 4,460 registrations were for terraced homes, up 30% compared with the third quarter of 2023. Steve Wood, chief executive at NHBC said: “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. He added: “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.” The NHBC’s figures also show 27,868 new homes were completed in the third quarter of 2024, down 9% compared with the third quarter of 2023. Here are the numbers of new homes registered to be built in the third quarter of this year, and the percentage increase or decrease in registrations compared with the third quarter of 2023, according to the NHBC: North East, 1,421, 78% North West and Merseyside, 2,760, 81% Yorkshire and the Humber, 2,013, 56% West Midlands, 1,940, 61% East Midlands, 3,274, 74% Eastern England, 3,167, 65% South West, 3,287, 73% London, 1,334, minus 50% South East, 5,153, 84% Scotland, 2,432, 12% Wales, 1,056, 3% Northern Ireland and Isle of Man, 887, minus 29%.