ONS figures show housing association quarterly completions up 36%, but starts continue to fall

Completions painted a slightly rosier picture. Alongside the increase among housing associations, councils completed 670 homes, a rise of 270 on the previous quarter. Total quarterly completions climbed to 40,860, up from 34,010.

At this rate, the Labour government is likely to deliver starts and completions of between 106,000 and 153,000 during its first year in power.

This means the government’s housing reforms would have to deliver more 300,000 homes a year in each of the last four years of parliament to get anywhere near its ambition of 1.5 million homes.

Paul Rickard, chief executive of developer Pocket Living, said: “By any measure, these are a disappointing set of figures and continue to highlight the massive challenge the government has in delivering 1.5 million new homes within the next four years.

“That said, the government set a target of 300,000 homes a year knowing that it wouldn’t be easy. Planning reform is only part of the answer.

“With one in three approved homes still unbuilt since 2015 and viability now beyond breaking point, it’s time for policymakers to work with the sector to find real, workable solutions.

“This must include policies to encourage an SME housebuilding renaissance, maximising the opportunities of devolution and Homes England reform, introducing flexibility on affordable tenure, using the forthcoming Spending Review and housing strategy as a major delivery reset moment, and applying a proportionality test for new and existing regulations.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an extra £2bn top-up for the current Affordable Homes Programme (AHP) in March. She said the this injection would deliver up to 18,000 new social and affordable homes.

It was the third such top-up in five months, following investments of £350m in February and £500m in October 2024. 

It precedes the government’s Spending Review on 11 June, which is set to feature details of a new, multi-year AHP to replace the existing scheme.

Around a week after the top-up announcement, the boss of Homes England revealed that 60% of the government’s new AHP cash was being spent on social rented homes.