You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
CIH raises alarm as Northern Ireland quarterly new home starts hit lowest levels since 2013
Quarterly new home starts in Northern Ireland have fallen to their lowest levels since 2013, as the sector warns of a “deepening wastewater infrastructure capacity crisis”.
CIH raises alarm as Northern Ireland quarterly new home starts hit lowest levels since 2013 #UKhousingThe Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Northern Ireland said this sudden decline in new home starts is “deeply concerning”.
Figures published by the Department of Finance showed that 1,075 homes were started between October and December 2025, representing a drop of 30% compared with the final quarter of 2024.
Just 51 of these starts were social housing, according to the quarterly government figures, which is the lowest number since 2007 and marks a 61% reduction compared to the 132 starts in the last quarter of 2024.
Read more
The new dwellings statistics, which are derived from the number of building control inspections taking place, showed that the total number of housing association starts in 2025 was 701, down 11% on the total for 2024.
In response to the new figures, CIH called for a long-term solution to the country’s wastewater infrastructure problems, which it said continues to “hinder the much-needed construction of new homes”.
Research last year estimated that almost 30,000 new homes are currently blocked, including 7,000 affordable homes, due to supposed concerns over inadequate wastewater infrastructure.
CIH did however welcome the government’s completion figures, noting that the 1,640 completions in the final quarter of 2025 represented the highest figure in three years. Of the total quarterly number, 128 were social housing.
Georgia Knapp, policy and public affairs manager at CIH Northern Ireland, said: “Alarm bells should be sounding for everyone in the housing sector as we look at the lowest number of new home starts since a post-recessionary period in 2013.
“Unfortunately, this downward trend may be a sign of things to come if action isn’t taken quickly – significant intervention is required to prevent a catastrophe in the housing sector in Northern Ireland.”
She continued: “The executive needs to start taking seriously the wastewater infrastructure capacity issues that continue to plague the sector and look at sustainable measures such as a modest levy in order to unblock stalled housing projects.
“This levy would create a sustainable, multi-year investment model for NI Water, enabling stalled housing, industrial and regeneration projects to proceed.”
On home completions, Ms Knapp said: “While the figures relating to new home starts are alarming, the increase in new home completions is welcome, particularly after a slump earlier in 2025.
“However, delivery levels remain below what is required to meet Northern Ireland’s housing need.”
Sign up to Inside Housing’s Northern Ireland newsletter
Sign up to Inside Housing’s Northern Ireland newsletter, a fortnightly round-up of all the key news and insight affecting the Northern Irish affordable housing sector.
Click here to register and receive the Northern Ireland newsletter straight to your inbox.
And subscribe to Inside Housing by clicking here.
Already have an account? Click here to manage your newsletters.
Sign up for Housing 2026
Join us at Housing 2026 and hear from the sector’s most influential voices. Leading housing organisations curate their stages, showcasing the speakers and discussions that matter most.
Take part in purposeful, tech-enabled networking – see who’s attending, handpick the people you want to meet, and engage in meaningful, in-person conversations.
Connect with every key decision-maker under one roof, from local authorities and housing associations to investors, developers and operators.
Related stories
