New-build demand falls in Q4, but pockets of the market remain sturdy
The latest market analysis from Property Inspect has found that demand for new-build homes remained subdued in Q4, with fewer than one in five new properties securing a buyer, as market conditions softened further on both a quarterly and annual basis.
Property Inspect analysed current market listings to assess what proportion of new-build homes are already marked as sold subject to contract, providing an insight into how homebuyer demand has shifted during the final quarter of the year.
The research shows that across Great Britain, new-build buyer demand stood at 16.8% in Q4, down -0.9% on the previous quarter and -1.8% lower than the same period last year. This confirms a continued cooling in demand as the market closed out 2025.
Demand was weakest in Aberdeen, where just 1.5% of new-build stock had found a buyer. Liverpool also saw low levels of demand at 3.6%, followed by Newcastle (4.5%), Swansea (5.8%), and Newport (6.7%), all ranking among the coldest locations for new-build homebuyer activity in Q4.
On a quarterly basis, Newport recorded the sharpest quarterly decline in demand, falling by -8%, while Sheffield saw an -7.6% reduction. Bristol also cooled notably, down -5.2%, while Aberdeen (-4.5%) Leicester (-4.3%) and Plymouth (-3.4%) also saw sharp drops. Meanwhile, demand in London edged down by -0.4%, continuing its gradual softening.
Despite this widespread decline in new-build demand at the end of 2025, there were still pockets of resilience within the market. In terms of overall demand, Southampton continued to lead the way, with 39.7% of new-build homes going under offer. Nottingham followed with demand at 25.6%, narrowly ahead of Sheffield at 25.5%, while Portsmouth (24.7%) and Bournemouth (22.9%) also posted relatively strong levels of buyer interest.
Nottingham recorded the strongest quarterly growth in Q4, with demand rising by 7.5%. Glasgow saw an uplift of 3.3%, while Portsmouth increased by 3%. Bournemouth also edged up by 0.4%, highlighting that, despite wider headwinds, select markets continued to attract new-build buyers as the year drew to a close.
Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, Operations Director at Property Inspect, commented:
“New-build buyer demand has continued to ease as we closed out Q4, with fewer than one in five homes securing a buyer and momentum softening both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year.
Ongoing affordability pressures, a higher-for-longer interest rate environment and continued uncertainty around the direction of housing policy have combined to keep many buyers on the sidelines. With new-build homes typically priced at a premium, it’s unsurprising that this part of the market has felt the impact most acutely.
That said, the outlook is not universally downbeat, and well-presented new-build stock can still generate strong levels of demand across much of the country, even in a more cautious market. But homes will not attract buyers by default: they must be constructed and finished to a high quality standard that creates confidence in buyers.
This reinforces the growing importance of quality, compliance and consistency. At Property Inspect, we work with developers and agents to deliver smarter inspection and reporting solutions that help ensure new homes are brought to market at the highest possible standard, supporting buyer confidence and sales performance as market conditions remain challenging.”
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Breaking Property News 28/1/26
