Ireland and UK see mixed housing construction trends in Q2 2026

In Ireland, the Central Statistics Office reported that 8,823 dwellings were completed between April and June 2026, the strongest first‑half pace since 2008. The half‑year total reached 16,679 new homes, an 11% year‑on‑year increase, but the sector remains far short of the 50,000‑60,000 units needed annually. Deloitte Ireland chief economist Kate English said the upward trend could push completions beyond 2026 levels if policy momentum continues.

In the United Kingdom, the National House Building Council logged 29,162 new homes registered for construction in Q2 2026, a 4% decline from the same period a year earlier. Registrations fell in six of twelve regions, with the South West down 42% and East Midlands down 36%, while London showed a 170% surge. NHBC chief strategy officer Daniel Pearce attributed the slowdown to higher interest rates, cost pressures and geopolitical uncertainty, and highlighted the need for planning reform and affordable‑housing programmes.

Both reports underline persistent supply constraints across the two countries despite regional variations.