The pandemic-proof new build markets with the largest uplift in sales

The latest research from new build snagging experts, HouseScan, has revealed which pockets of the market have proved the most pandemic proof for new build sales over the last year.

HouseScan analysed data on new build sales data over the last 12 months and how the market has performed in the face of a pandemic compared to the previous 12 months.

The latest data shows that there have been some 79,997 new build sales across Britain as a whole, a -35% decline on the 124,009 new builds sold in the previous year.

The South West has seen the largest decline in new build sales, with total transactions down -40% on the previous year. The North East and London have also seen transactions in the sector dip by -39% annually, with the East and West Midlands again seeing some of the largest declines at -38%.

While all British regions have seen a decline, some more localised pockets of the new build market have weathered the storm.

In West Devon, there were 124 new build transactions over the last 12 months, a 343% increase on the 28 new homes sold over the previous 12 months.

Merthyr Tydfil and North Ayshire have also seen some of the largest increases in new build transactions, up 188% and 137% respectively.

Thanet (87%), Wyre Forest (80%), Westminster (51%), Newcastle-under-Lyme (47%), Brent (43%), Caerphilly (33%) and East Renfrewshire (33%) also rank within the top 10 where the largest increase in new build transactions over the last 12 months is concerned.

Founder and Managing Director of HouseScan, Harry Yates, commented: “It’s clear that when analysing transactional performance across the new build sector, the issues posed by Covid have had a detrimental impact. This has primarily been due to the restrictions placed in the initial months of 2020 preventing many in the sector from both building and selling units.

“However, as with the regular market, the new build sector has enjoyed a boost in activity following the market’s reopening and the dangling carrot of a stamp duty saving. Of course, this initial demand will take time to appear at a top-line transactional level, but it places the sector in a strong position for a positive year ahead.

“While demand across the regular market may see a decline come March and the end of the stamp duty holiday, we expect to see the new build sector remain favourable amongst UK buyers and, as a result, both transactions and price growth should continue to climb in 2021.”

Table shows new build transactions over the last 12 months (latest data available), the previous 12 months and the percentage change by British nation and region.
Location	New Build Sales (Sept 2018 to Aug 2019)	New Build Sales (Sept 2019 to Aug 2020)	Change (%)
Scotland	11,773	9,369	-20%
South East	18,358	12,018	-35%
East of England	13,391	8,612	-36%
Wales	3,779	2,417	-36%
North West	14,414	9,213	-36%
Yorkshire and The Humber	9,564	5,990	-37%
West Midlands Region	10,991	6,806	-38%
East Midlands	10,856	6,678	-38%
London	13,336	8,186	-39%
North East	6,068	3,721	-39%
South West	11,444	6,893	-40%
England	108,422	68,117	-37%
Great Britain	124,008	79,997	-35%
Source: Gov.uk: UK House Price Index (New Build House Prices and Transactions)
Table shows the areas of Britain to see the biggest increase in new build transactions over the last 12 months compared to the previous 12 months
Location	New Build Sales (Sept 2018 to Aug 2019)	New Build Sales (Sept 2019 to Aug 2020)	Change (%)
West Devon	28	124	343%
Merthyr Tydfil	16	46	188%
North Ayrshire	70	166	137%
Thanet	30	56	87%
Wyre Forest	20	36	80%
City of Westminster	183	276	51%
Newcastle-under-Lyme	114	168	47%
Brent	198	283	43%
Caerphilly	63	84	33%
East Renfrewshire	191	254	33%
Source: Gov.uk: UK House Price Index (New Build House Prices and Transactions)

 

Source: Show House News