The number of new homes being built in Wales has hit a record low, according to the latest figures, with the lack of new homes being built one factor driving the housing crisis in the country
The number of new homes being built in Wales is at a record low (Image: South Wales Echo)
Wales recorded its lowest number of new house builds in history during the past year, according to newly released data. Between April 2024 and March 2025 construction began on merely 3,798 new properties, representing a 26% decline from the preceding year and constituting the lowest figure ever documented.
In comparison, the 2015/16 period witnessed approximately 7,000 homes beginning construction annually in Wales. The shortage of new properties represents a key element fuelling Wales’s housing emergency, which has left numerous residents unable to afford homes and contributed to rising homelessness levels, reports North Wales Live.
According to the Welsh Government’s 2024 housing stock calculations, the new dwellings commenced in 2024-25 represent roughly three new properties per 1,000 existing homes.
The data derives from reports submitted by local authority building inspectors alongside the National House Building Council (NHBC) and a private approved inspector (PAI). For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter
Officials cautioned that information from additional PAIs remains excluded, potentially causing the total count of commenced and finished properties to be understated.
The Welsh Government acknowledged “limitations to the accuracy” within these statistics.
Key figures
- In 2024-25, 3,798 new dwellings were started, down 26% on 2023-24.
- In the same period, 4,631 new dwellings were completed, down 3% on the previous year.
- Of the 4,631 dwellings completed, 73% were accounted for by the private sector, 23% by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) and 5% by local authorities.
- 39% of completions were 3-bedroom homes and 23% of completions were homes with 4 or more bedrooms.
Number of new dwelling starts and completions, 2015-16 to 2024-25, in Wales
Across local authorities, new dwelling commencements varied from 43 in Denbighshire (representing one new property per 1,000 existing homes) to 412 in Cardiff (representing three new properties per 1,000 existing homes).
The rate of new dwellings started per 1,000 existing dwellings varied from one in Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Powys, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend (with fewer than 100 new dwellings starts) to five in Newport (where 356 new dwellings were initiated).
The Welsh Government stated: “We recognise that there are limitations to the accuracy of the tenure breakdown within this statistical publication, which is a UK-wide issue.
“Delivering more homes is one of our top priorities and we are taking action to deliver as many as possible, including through extending our Help to Buy Wales scheme and providing funding support through the Wales Residential Property Fund.
“We are also providing record levels of investment in social housing across Wales, with funding of more than £2bn this Senedd term – including £411m in 2025-26 alone.”