Some 767 new homes were registered in Northern Ireland in the second quarter of this year, which represents an annual increase of 44%, according to the National House Building Council (NHBC).
Only Yorkshire and the Humber (up 96%) and the south west of England (up 75%) had a higher annual percentage growth of new building starts, the warranty and insurance provider said.
Across the UK, 30,405 new homes were recorded by the NHBC as being registered to be built in the second quarter, up by 4% when compared with the same quarter in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.
Some 32,434 new homes were completed in the second quarter of 2025, which was 5% down on the same period in 2024.
The NHBC has a 70%-plus share of the UK warranty market and its figures indicate the stock of new properties in the pipeline as homes are registered with it before being built.
Steve Wood, chief executive at NHBC, said: “There has been modest growth in house building registrations in the second quarter compared to last year, signalling an uplift in confidence from developers, especially in low-rise housing.
“While some areas of the market remain subdued, we remain optimistic about the longer-term as planning and land restraints are increasingly unblocked, mortgage rates ease and the Government sustains a focus on new home delivery.”
Demand for social and affordable homes across the UK is acute, the NHBC says
The NHBC recorded 20,924 private sector registrations in the second quarter of 2025, up by 6% compared with the second quarter of 2024.
The rental and affordable sector saw a 1% uplift over the same period, with 9,481 new homes registered in the second quarter.
Mr Wood added: “The demand for social and affordable homes across the UK is acute, so it is encouraging to see long-term targeted funding for this sector.
“At NHBC we are focused on supporting developers to ensure such new homes are built to the quality owners and occupiers should expect. This is particularly important in periods of growth.”