Last updated: 30 Sep 2026
Quarter 2, 2026 Report
The Housing Pipeline Report for Q2 2026 shows at 51,503 the number of residential units approved dropped by 18% during the second quarter of 2026 and was 8% lower than on a year ago. However, the number of units approved during the first six months was 2% up on the first half of 2025. At 3,173, the number of housing projects granted planning permission in the second quarter fell by 9% against the preceding quarter but was 1% higher than a year ago.
Housing schemes of ten or more units during the second quarter accounted for 88% of approved units. At 45,194, the number of units on such schemes declined by 19% against the preceding quarter and was 10% lower than a year earlier. The remaining 12% of units were on smaller new build projects of up to nine units including self-build schemes together with homes included within non-residential projects and from the conversion of non-residential properties.
At 1,278 the number of private sector housing projects (schemes of 3 or more units) securing approval was 13% lower than in the first quarter and was 14% down on a year earlier. At 44,927 the number of units on private sector projects granted planning permission was 17% down on the previous three months and 10% down on a year earlier.
At 101, the number of social housing projects (of three or more units) rose by 1% during the second quarter and was 20% up on a year ago. However, at 4,274, the number of units was 33% down on the preceding quarter and was 5% lower than a year earlier.
There was a marked strengthening in approvals in the East and West Midlands, North East, Scotland and Wales during the second quarter with the number of units approved 36%, 23%, 141%, 16% and 132% up respectively on a year earlier. In contrast unit approvals were lower in other regions, with the steepest declines on a year ago being falls of 33%, 36%, 30% and 39% in the North West, Yorkshire & the Humber, London and the South East respectively.
