London's housing construction rebound - and the Building Safety Regulator

Construction began on 4,570 homes in London during the first quarter of 2026, representing a 287% increase compared with the same period last year and bringing housing starts close to the capital’s long-term quarterly average.

The improvement comes as the BSR continues to reduce approval times for higher-risk buildings and conversions. The latest figures show a 91% national approval rate, with the median determination time falling to 22 weeks, compared with 43 weeks a year earlier.

London has seen particularly strong performance, accounting for 27 of the latest 45 national new-build decisions. Of those, 25 projects received approval, giving the capital a 93% approval rate across the latest determinations.

Despite the progress, a significant pipeline remains within the regulatory system. The BSR currently has 131 live new-build and conversion applications representing 30,421 homes, with London accounting for the majority of active cases.

The improving approval times could provide a welcome boost to developers, contractors and the wider construction supply chain. However, financing, planning, construction costs and project viability remain key factors in determining whether approved schemes ultimately reach site.

With housing starts now approaching historic levels, the coming months will be important in determining whether London’s residential construction recovery can be sustained.

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