The Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) is the leading provider of cost and carbon data to the UK built environment. Over 4,000 subscribing consultants, clients and contractors use BCIS products to control costs, manage budgets, mitigate risk and improve project performance. If you would like to speak with the team call us +44 0330 341 1000, email contactbcis@bcis.co.uk or fill in our demonstration form
Published: 30/04/2025
ONS publishes quarterly data on housing starts and completions carried out by private enterprises, housing associations and local authorities across the UK.
Data is collected from a range of sources, including local authority new build form returns, National House Building Council (NHBC) data, approved inspector data returns, Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme, and District Council Building Control in Northern Ireland.
UK housing starts in 2024 nearly one-third less than 2019
Housing starts in the UK were 30.8% lower in 2024 than in pre-pandemic 2019, according to the latest provisional data from ONS(1). Starts in 2024 were also lower by 25.7% (45,860) compared with 2023.
On the completions side, a total number of 184,390 dwellings were completed in the UK in 2024, 5.3% fewer than in the previous year and 13.9% less than in 2019.
Source: ONS – House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country, Table 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
In 4Q2024, UK starts fell by 14.3% on the previous quarter but increased by 31.7% on 4Q2023. England accounted for 80.1% of all starts in the quarter, of which 76.2% were by private enterprises. The number of private enterprise starts (19,380) in England in 4Q2024 decreased on the quarter but rose on 4Q2023.
In Wales, the number of starts in 4Q2024 decreased by 29.0% on the quarter and 59.6% on the year. Scotland saw an 8.0% increase on a quarterly basis and a 3.3% rise on the year, while Northern Ireland increased on 3Q2024 but fell on the annual comparison.
All dwellings starts
| 4Q2024 | Change from 3Q2024 | Change from 4Q2023 | |
| UK | 31,770 | -14.3% | 31.7% |
| England | 25,440 | -17.3% | 51.8% |
| Wales | 760 | -29.0% | -59.6% |
| Scotland | 4,030 | 8.0% | 3.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 1,540 | 1.3% | -2.5% |
Source: ONS – House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country, Table 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
Source: ONS – House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country, Table 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
In contrast to starts, UK housing completions in 4Q2024 were up on the quarter but down on the year. All parts of the UK except for Northern Ireland saw decreases in completions on pre-pandemic 2019 for the same period.
In contrast to starts, UK housing completions in 4Q2024 were up on the quarter but down on the year. All parts of the UK except for Northern Ireland saw decreases in completions on pre-pandemic 2019 for the same period.
All dwellings completions
| 4Q2024 | Change from 3Q2024 | Change from 4Q2023 | |
| UK | 49,120 | 18.4% | -7.8% |
| England | 40,860 | 20.1% | -8.8% |
| Wales | 1,270 | 35.1% | -17.5% |
| Scotland | 5,360 | 8.9% | -1.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 1,630 | 0.6% | 9.4% |
Source: ONS – House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country, Table 1b
In England, of the 40,860 dwellings completed in 4Q2024, 73.2% were by private enterprises (29,920). Housing associations were responsible for 10,270, or just over one in four completions, while local authorities accounted for 1.6%.
Across the rest of the UK, private enterprises also carried out the lion’s share of completions, ranging from 74.8% in Wales to 87.7% in Northern Ireland. Scotland was the only nation that saw more completions undertaken by local authorities than by housing associations.
Source: ONS – House building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country, Table 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e
Chief Economist at BCIS, Dr David Crosthwaite said: “Housing starts continue to struggle, with annual and quarterly data indicating falls and total starts remaining well below their pre-pandemic levels.
“However, housing completions are slightly more positive with quarterly growth evident in the latest data although, on an annual basis, completions are still down.
“These numbers are a long way off the more than 300,000 housing completions needed per year for the government to reach its 1.5m new homes target over the life of this Parliament.”
To keep up to date with the latest industry news and insights from BCIS, register for our newsletter here.
(1) Office for National Statistics – Indicators of house building, UK: permanent dwellings started and completed by country – here
