UK News | 7
NHBC reports 11% rise in registrations
The NHBC has reported an 11% growth in new home registrations for 2025, with private sector registrations up 12% and affordable home registrations up 10%. While the registration figures provide a more positive outlook for house building activity, new home completions stood at 122,012 in 2025, 2% down on 2024 (124,272). NHBC says the registration figures -
115,350 registrations (2024: 103,669) - point to an increase in homebuilding activity, albeit the numbers still fall behind long-term averages.
London is the only region to see decline in new home registrations amid regulatory challenges and affordability crisis. Apartments were the only house type not to experience growth in 2025. “Whilst there are some tentative signs of conditions improving for developers to build homes, fragile consumer confidence, affordability challenges and economic uncertainty continue to impact demand,”
said Daniel Pearce, corporate strategy director at NHBC.
Private sector registrations were up 12% to 75,227, compared to 67,265 in 2024. The rental and affordable sector saw a 10% uplift in the same period, with 40,123 new homes registered in 2025 versus 36,404 in 2024. Across the UK, all regions apart from London experienced year-on-year growth in registrations, with the West Midlands (+29%) and Eastern region (+24%) seeing the highest increases. London registrations were down a significant 27% as lengthy delays at the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) and a drop in affordable homes delivery impacted development in the capital. Mr Peare described the 2% drop in new home completions as “marginal” and a reminder that industry barriers must be tackled to stand any chance of meeting the government’s promise to build 1.5 million new homes.
Hardwood trade gathers in London
Around 200 representatives from the UK and international hardwood industry converged on the City of London on January 23 for the annual London Hardwood Club (LHC) New Year Luncheon. Many of the biggest names in the sector attended the annual event at the HAC, including James Latham, Brooks Bros, Timber Connection, and Danzer, while large overseas hardwood exporters also came – such as Vandecasteele Houtimport, Rougier, Baillee Lumber, and Garbelottta SpA, as well as some manufacturing customers. LHC president James White welcomed members and guests, reminding that the club was approaching 100 years, reflecting how the trade had changed since the 1930s.
Mr White pointed to the success of multiple club meetings at The Globe in Moorgate over the course of 2025, covering products, market intelligence and trends. He also made an appeal for younger members of the trade to join the LHC committee. The New Year luncheon was particularly memorable this year for its entertainment by Steve Rawlings, which consisted of high drama, juggling and audience participation the like which has not been seen at timber industry events for many a year. Attendees were transfixed as a unique combination of comedy and highly unusual juggling feats took central stage. A princely sum exceeding £2,500 was raised for charity in the raffle.
Housebuilders report stable results
Housebuilders Persimmon plc and Taylor Wimpey have reported a stable financial performance for 2025. Persimmon posted a 12% growth in completions in 2025 and expects to deliver underlying profit before tax at the upper end of market expectations. The trading update shows the group’s average selling price increased by 5% in 2025 to £301,000. National housebuilder Taylor Wimpey plc has reported an increase in sales, completions and average home selling prices for the full year 2025. Revenue for the year increased to approximately £3.8bn (2024: £3.4 billion), while it expects to deliver 2025 Group operating profit of approximately £420m (2024: £416.2m).
Wren Kitchens in Moores asset purchase
The customer list and certain other intellectual property assets of Wetherby- based Moores Furniture Group have been sold to Wren Kitchens via a pre-pack administration process. Founded in 1947 in West Yorkshire, Moores Furniture Group had fallen into administration, despite cost cuts and winning market share. Moores supplies kitchens to housebuilders, as well as to the public sector and affordable housing developers. The company’s situation had been exacerbated by rising input costs and low levels of housebuilding activity in recent months.
Hardwood traders at this year’s LHC NY Luncheon at the HAC, London
James Clark and Will Wright from Interpath were appointed joint administrators to Moores Furniture Group Limited on 19 January. The Joint Administrators will continue to operate the company’s facility for a short period to work through certain work in progress. They have retained around 336 members of staff to support with this process. Approximately 124 employees have been made redundant.
www.ttjonline.com | Spring 2016 | TTJ
UK News
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