Interest in recently constructed residential property continued to lose momentum throughout 2025, according to transaction-level analysis from conveyancing firm Bird & Co, despite sustained government attention on boosting development output and improving environmental standards across the housing stock.
A detailed examination of Bird & Co’s internal conveyancing records shows that new build sales represented a diminishing share of overall activity last year.
Properties classified as newly built accounted for just 9% of completed purchases, reinforcing a pattern of gradual contraction that has been evident for the past few years.
This decline occurred within a market increasingly dominated by purchasers entering homeownership for the first time. First-time buyers comprised 76% of Bird & Co’s clients in 2025, with more than 80%of all buyers securing accommodation intended for long-term occupation. Against this backdrop, demand for newly finished developments appears to have struggled to keep pace with buyer expectations and financial realities.
Bird & Co’s 2025 figures underline other interesting dynamics:
- September marked the low point, with new builds accounting for only 7% of residential conveyancing activity — the lowest level recorded since 2019.
- December saw a modest uptick, with new builds rising to 11% of purchases.
- Demand remained well below previous years, compared with 16% of buyers opting for new builds in December 2022.
Commenting on the findings, Daniel Chard, conveyancing specialist and Partner at Bird & Co, said,“The data suggests that newly constructed homes are increasingly misaligned with what a large share of today’s buyers are able or willing to prioritise.
“The figures suggest that affordability constraints, borrowing costs and lifestyle priorities increasingly outweighed the appeal of modern specifications or sustainability credentials.”
Newly built properties often carry higher price points relative to comparable older housing, which may have constrained accessibility for buyers managing larger deposits, higher mortgage repayments and broader cost-of-living pressures.
Practical considerations may also have influenced decision-making. In established urban and suburban areas, existing housing stock may offer closer proximity to employment, transport networks and amenities.
Buyers may have also placed greater emphasis on layout, usable space and neighbourhood familiarity than on contemporary finishes or sustainability credentials.
Looking ahead, Daniel Chard added, “A shift in buyer sentiment is possible, but it is likely to depend on how effectively new developments respond to affordability pressures and lifestyle priorities. Until then, the evidence points to a market where established housing stock continues to hold the strongest appeal.”
