Housing Supply in England: A Snapshot of Q2 2025
By Urbanissta – Forward Thinking Planning
As the government releases its latest Housing Supply Indicators for April to June 2025, the data offers a timely pulse check on the state of new housing delivery in England. While the headlines may not surprise those in the planning and development world, they do reinforce the urgency for reform, innovation, and collaboration.
A Dip in Delivery
The report shows a 6% year-on-year drop in new build completions, continuing a downward trend that has persisted since the pandemic. Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) data, often used as a proxy for new dwellings, also reflects a 5% decline compared to the same quarter in 2024.
This slowdown is particularly concerning given the government’s ambition to deliver 1.5 million homes over the next five years. With completions and starts still lagging behind pre-COVID levels, the pressure is mounting on both central and local government to unblock the pipeline.
Starts vs. Completions: The Lag Continues
While completions are falling, the number of new build starts remains relatively flat—suggesting that the bottleneck isn’t just in planning approvals, but also in delivery capacity, viability, and market confidence. This is a critical moment for the sector to reflect on how we can accelerate delivery without compromising quality or sustainability.
What This Means for Planners
- Strategic planning is more important than ever.
- Communication and engagement with communities and stakeholders must be proactive and transparent.
- Policy reform—especially around the planning system—needs to be matched with practical support for local authorities and developers.
Looking Ahead
With the Housing Secretary recently calling the planning application slump “unacceptable” and pledging an acceleration package, the coming months could bring significant changes to how planning is resourced and delivered.
At Urbanissta, we’re ready to help clients navigate this evolving landscape—whether it’s unlocking stalled sites, managing complex applications, or crafting compelling communications strategies.
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Get in touch—we’re here to help you move forward.
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