The construction data provider has revealed private housebuilders applied to build 116,481 homes in 2024 which was 3% more than the year before.

Barratt Redrow was the most prolific, submitting 78 applications, covering 14,454 units.

Persimmon was the second most active housebuilder with 74 applications covering 12,341 units. Taylor Wimpey came third with 45 applications for 7,993 units.

This data also demonstrated a shift in housing plans towards larger developments.

In 2024, the average detailed planning application submitted was for 142 units. This was up from the 126-unit average for 2023.

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Houses remain the dominant form of property type in these, but there was a 45% increase in the number of apartments housebuilders sought planning permission for.

This was partly due to an increase in proposals for new retirement housing, with a 24% uplift in these kinds of applications in 2024.

Based on this activity, and with continued government support for housing delivery, Glenigan is forecasting a 13% rise in the underlying value of new private housing starts.

“A strengthening in economic growth and further interest rate cuts are expected to further buoy house-buyers confidence during 2025 and 2026,” says Glenigan economics director Allan Wilén.

“This is forecast to support a strengthening in new housing activity as rising house sales encourage developers to accelerate the development of existing projects and open new sites.”