Only 104,232 homes were registered to be built in 2024, less than in 2023 (105,071), figures released by warranty and insurance provider the National House Building Council (NHBC) has revealed.
Meanwhile 124,144 new homes were completed in the same period, 7% down on 2023 (133,611).
In terms of positives, private sector registrations were up 11% to 68,987, compared to 62,291 in 2023.
Steve Wood, chief executive of the NHBC, said: “While house building activity has remained broadly level with 2023, it is positive to see increased activity in the private sector.
“Recent announcements from the Chancellor on infrastructure and planning reform are welcome and with easing inflation, there are some encouraging signs for better house building growth conditions in 2025.
“A much greater focus on skills from government has been well received by the industry. NHBC continues to do its part, shaking-up house-building training with a £100m investment in a new national network of multi-skill apprenticeship training hubs.
“The NHBC hubs will help develop the workforce that will deliver the high quality new homes the country needs.”
Across the UK, seven out of 12 regions saw a rise in registrations in 2024 compared to 2023, with the biggest increases in North West & Merseyside (+17%), West Midlands (+16%) and Scotland (+15%).
Registrations were significantly down in London (-48%), linked to financial challenges for housing associations and building safety costs on tall buildings.
Semi-detached homes were the most registered house type in 2024 at 34,778, closely followed by detached homes at 34,706.
Year-on-year, there was growth of +16% in detached and +11% in semi-detached homes, while apartments (-29%), bungalows (-11%) and terraced properties (-10%) all experienced a decline, compared to 2023.
Of the 124,144 new homes completed in 2024, 45,824 were in the rental and affordable sector,
Wood added: “It is encouraging to see a high number of new home completions in the affordable sector.
“If ambitions in new build housing are to be met, a mix of tenures is essential for accelerating housing delivery.
“Housing associations and local authorities eagerly await details of new investment in the Spring Spending Review.
“Private sale will continue to be the largest sector but affordable, social, and private build to rent tenures also need to be significantly scaled up.”
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