London has its own set of problems but it's definitely a national issue. Though there's a definite north/south. Bit simplistic: South East has better viability but fewer people able to buy due to high mortgage rates. North West less affected by rates but viability is a bigger challenge.

How do we save the wilting new homes market? My latest for the FT: www.ft.com/content/2881...

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. As expected, deliveries in May 2026 were 1.3% higher than in April but 8.1% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. As expected, deliveries in May 2026 were 1.3% higher than in April but 8.1% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Both Labour & Conservative politicians always make big house building promises, but they have nothing to do with reality. We never even got to Gordon Brown's 240,000 new housebuilding completions a year in the UK target from 2007, never mind more recent fantasy targets... #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. As expected, deliveries in April 2026 were 3% higher than in March but 1% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. As expected, deliveries in April 2026 were 3% higher than in March but 1% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

There were 2.07 million people employed in UK construction in 2026 Q1, which was 0.6% higher than in Q4 but 3.4% lower than a year ago, 14.5% lower than the recent peak in 2019 Q1 & it remains at its lowest levels since 2001, according to the ONS. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

There were 2.07 million people employed in UK construction in 2026 Q1, which was 0.6% higher than in Q4 but 3.4% lower than a year ago, 14.5% lower than the recent peak in 2019 Q1 & it remains at its lowest levels since 2001, according to the ONS. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

Private house building activity in March 2026 was 2.8% higher than persistent rain-affected February but still 4.6% lower than a year ago, according to the ONS, before the impacts of the Middle East conflict on both housing demand (affordability) & supply (costs). (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. As expected, in March 2026, deliveries were 26.7% higher than in February but 3.4% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in February 2026 were 0.9% lower than in January & 20.8% lower than a year earlier, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in February 2026 were 0.9% lower than in January & 20.8% lower than a year earlier, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

A useful bit of information from @resi-analyst.bsky.social in his excellent new piece in the Financial Times on issues facing housing: "even the government’s own modelling for the Future Homes Standard shows it will miss its 1.5 million housebuilding target by 400,000". #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Given that house building completions in England in 2025 fell by 8%, a 3rd successive fall according to MHCLG, it's worth noting that site viability & affordability were not only the biggest house building issues last year, but they will get worse this year. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

Given that house building completions in England in 2025 fell by 8%, a 3rd successive fall according to MHCLG, it's worth noting that site viability & affordability were not only the biggest house building issues last year, but they will get worse this year. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

Private house building activity fell again in January 2026, as expected, in the ONS construction output data this morning. Private housing output in January was 5.6% lower than in December, 10.7% lower than a year ago & 28.7% lower than at the recent peak in 2022. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Private house building activity fell again in January 2026, as expected, in the ONS construction output data this morning. Private housing output in January was 5.6% lower than in December, 10.7% lower than a year ago & 28.7% lower than at the recent peak in 2022. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

According to the latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI, UK construction activity fell again in February 2026 (it's 14th consecutive fall). 50=no monthly change & it was 44.5, a faster fall than in January (46.4). (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in January 2026 were 7.6% lower than a year earlier, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in January 2026 were 7.6% lower than a year earlier, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

It's even more unlikely if you accept their mortgage rate forecast (which looks ludicrously under-optimistic!)

The OBR Spring Statement forecasts the low point of house building as next year (2026/27), with 1.3 million net additional dwellings in the UK in the 5-year Parliament. Government's 1.5 million target is England only over 5 years so the OBR forecast is equivalent to 1.1 million &... #SpringStatement

Given the Spring Statement OBR forecasts are already too optimistic due to the impact of recent Middle Eastern conflict on energy prices, inflation & GDP, the OBR revising 2026 GDP growth from 1.4% in Autumn to 1.1% now is concerning as it will be revised down again in Autumn. #SpringStatement

High-rise (7 storeys or more) residential building has had a lot to deal with over the last few years. The downturn in housing demand & rise in financing costs after interest rates rose, affordability issues,... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

There were 2.06 million in the UK construction workforce in 2025 Q4, according to the ONS, which is broadly flat compared with Q3, 3.9% lower than a year earlier & 15.0% lower than in 2019 Q1. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

There were 2.06 million in the UK construction workforce in 2025 Q4, according to the ONS, which is broadly flat compared with Q3, 3.9% lower than a year earlier & 15.0% lower than in 2019 Q1. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

Private housing volume of output in December 2025 (seasonally adjusted) was 0.9% lower than in November, 6.1% lower than a year ago & 24.4% lower than at the recent peak in May 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Private housing volume of output in December 2025 (seasonally adjusted) was 0.9% lower than in November, 6.1% lower than a year ago & 24.4% lower than at the recent peak in May 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

The latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI was 46.4 in January 2026, vs 40.1 in December. 50=no monthly change, so construction activity fell again in January, a 13th consecutive decline, but it was a slower decline than December's 5.5-year low. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

The latest S&P Global UK Construction PMI was 46.4 in January 2026, vs 40.1 in December. 50=no monthly change, so construction activity fell again in January, a 13th consecutive decline, but it was a slower decline than December's 5.5-year low. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in December 2025 were 28.3% lower than in November, according to the Department for Business & Trade &... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in December 2025 were 28.3% lower than in November, according to the Department for Business & Trade &... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

According to the ONS construction output & GDP data this morning, house building output (which is closer to house building completions than new starts) in November 2025 was 4.0% lower than in October, 4.7% lower than a year ago & 24.1% lower than at the recent peak in October 2022. (1/n) #ukhousing

According to the ONS construction output & GDP data this morning, house building output (which is closer to house building completions than new starts) in November 2025 was 4.0% lower than in October, 4.7% lower than a year ago & 24.1% lower than at the recent peak in October 2022. (1/n) #ukhousing

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in November 2025 were 15.5% lower than in October & 10.2% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in November 2025 were 15.5% lower than in October & 10.2% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

2 key problems for construction by the government, causing so much pre-Autumn Budget uncertainty & prolonging it by pushing back the Budget to the end of November, are that... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction www.thetimes.com/article/01c8...

UK building materials price rises coming in January 2026 due to cost rises. TP are highlighted but it will be most merchants & manufacturers IF (a big 'if' given the subdued market) they can pass cost rises on. Daniel Woolfson in The Times. #ukhousing #ukconstruction www.thetimes.com/business/com...

According to the Office for National Statistics's construction & GDP data this morning, house building output in October 2025 was 2.1% lower than in September, 2.2% lower than a year ago & 20.8% lower than in October 2022 (at the recent peak) BUT... #ukhousing #ukconstruction

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in October 2025 were flat (0.1%) vs September &, more concerningly, 4.2% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing

UK brick deliveries are a useful proxy for new house building starts in the absence of monthly starts data. Deliveries in October 2025 were flat (0.1%) vs September &, more concerningly, 4.2% lower than a year ago, according to the Department for Business & Trade. (1/n) #ukhousing

The S&P Global UK Construction PMI was 39.4 in November 2025, (50=no monthly change in activity), down from 44.1 in October, so an 11th consecutive monthly decline in construction activity & November's decline was its sharpest since May 2020. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

The S&P Global UK Construction PMI was 39.4 in November 2025, (50=no monthly change in activity), down from 44.1 in October, so an 11th consecutive monthly decline in construction activity & November's decline was its sharpest since May 2020. (1/n) #ukconstruction #ukhousing

In ONS data problem news... either UK construction productivity has improved 19.7% since 2019, pre-pandemic, (note: it hasn't) or there are serious issues with ONS construction output data (that feeds into UK GDP) &/or ONS construction employment data. #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Also note that in March's OBR forecast, it forecast 1.3 million net additional dwellings in the UK between 2025/26 & 2029/30 (5 years), but in the latest OBR forecast, it has now added in an extra year to bump it up to 1.49 million over 6 years between 2024/25 & 2029/30)! #ukhousing #ukconstruction

The OBR's latest economic forecasts alongside the Budget says net additional new homes in 2023/24 & 2024/25 were lower than it expected but they will be much higher than expected this year (2025/26)??? despite... #autumnbudget #AutumnBudget2025 #AutumnBudget25 #Budget #ukhousing #ukconstruction

OBR net additions forecast "This leaves cumulative net additions between 2024-25 and 2029-30 at 1.49 million, around 10,000 lower than in March" (for UK, not England)

Before the impacts of the Autumn Budget itself on the UK economy, house building & construction, a thread on the negative impacts of the pre-Budget uncertainty on house building & construction... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction

Before the impacts of the Autumn Budget itself on the UK economy, house building & construction, a thread on the negative impacts of the pre-Budget uncertainty on house building & construction... (1/n) #ukhousing #ukconstruction