The CEA has welcomed early signs of stability in the UK housing sector, as the latest Housebuilders Quarterly Report from BDS Marketing Research (Q3 2025) shows housing consents beginning to recover after three consecutive quarters of decline. Approvals per quarter have now returned to around Q1 2025 levels – still below historic averages, but a positive indication that confidence may be starting to rebuild.
The report analyses housing consents across Great Britain by sector and region. It covers large-scale private housebuilders, public sector developments (including council and housing association projects), and other builds such as individually financed or investment-led schemes. Data is provided nationally and by county, with comparisons between houses and flats, and quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year performance.
Key findings for Q3 2025 include:
-
Overall housing consents were 13% lower than in Q3 2024.
-
Houses made up 72% of total consents, up from 70% in Q2 2025.
-
Public sector housing consents rose to around 3,150 units, increasing market share from 4.8% in Q2 to roughly 7% in Q3.
-
The South East recorded the highest number of private housing consents, with nearly 14,000 approvals, up from around 8,000 in the previous quarter. The region also led in both public and ‘other’ housing categories, with more than 4,000 additional consents granted.
The Housebuilders Quarterly Report (Q3 2025) offers useful intelligence for manufacturers, suppliers, and contractors, highlighting areas of growth and regional shifts in construction demand. Further sector data and analysis are available in the CEA’s quarterly economic reports.
