Government claims progress on meeting 1.5 million homes target

The government says it is seeing “green shoots of recovery” in housebuilding and claims it is on track to meet its 1.5 million homes target.

New government statistics show a rise in new build starts in the year ending September 2025, reaching 117,980, a 18% increase compared with the previous year.

However, Propertymark warns that boosting headline numbers alone will not solve the housing crisis.

Give everyone the chance to live in the home they dream of

According to government figures, new build starts rose by 3% between July and September 2025, reaching 29,620 compared with the same quarter last year.

An estimated 309,600 new homes have been delivered since the start of this Parliament on 9 July 2024, with the government claiming this now exceeds a fifth of its 1.5 million homes target.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “I said I will build 1.5 million homes and I meant it.

“Thanks to our changes to planning laws we’re now seeing the green shoots of recovery, with an 18% increase in work starting on new homes compared to the previous year.

“We will keep on streamlining the planning system and investing in social housing so we can end the housing crisis we inherited and give everyone the chance to live in the home they dream of.”

Boosting headline numbers alone will not solve the housing crisis

However, Propertymark warns the government must build the homes in the right places and give more support to first-time buyers.

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Any increase in housing supply is welcome, and these figures offer some much-needed optimism after a prolonged period of uncertainty across the sector.

“However, boosting headline numbers alone will not solve the housing crisis. What matters just as much is ensuring the right homes are being built in the right places, with a mix of tenures that reflects local need and supports first-time buyers, renters, and those seeking genuinely affordable housing.”

He adds: “For growth to be sustainable, new development must be matched with investment in infrastructure, transport and local services, alongside a planning system that is clear, consistent and deliverable for all parties.

“Confidence among developers, lenders, and consumers remains fragile, and continued reform must focus on providing long-term certainty rather than short-term fixes.

“Propertymark members on the ground see daily the mismatch between supply and demand, and while these green shoots are encouraging, there is still significant work ahead if the UK government is to meet its ambitions and deliver homes that communities can thrive in for generations to come.”