New-build starts in England rise 6% to 35,910 in the second quarter, but completions dip 3%

Official figures published on 24 September show 35,910 homes were started in England between April and June 2026, up 6% on the first quarter and 20% on a year earlier, while completions fell 3% on the quarter to 35,800 (seasonally adjusted). More starts now feed the pipeline of homes finished over the next one to two years, but this quarter's completions show little change in what is actually coming to market. For buyers, that means the new-build choice available this autumn is broadly unchanged; for sellers, competition from new developments is not rising in the short term. The rise in starts also needs care: the government notes that new reporting from the Building Safety Regulator has lifted recent start counts, and the data covers only about 80% of house building.