Demand for new-build homes remained subdued in Q4, with fewer than one in five new properties securing a buyer as market conditions softened on both a quarterly and annual basis, according to the latest analysis from Property Inspect.
Property Inspect analysed current market listings to assess what proportion of new-build homes are already marked as sold subject to contract, providing insight into how homebuyer demand shifted during the final quarter of the year.
Across Great Britain, new-build buyer demand stood at 16.8% in Q4, down 0.9% on the previous quarter and 1.8% lower than the same period last year. The figures confirm a continued cooling in demand as the market closed out 2025.
Aberdeen recorded the weakest demand, where just 1.5% of new-build stock had found a buyer. Liverpool also saw low levels at 3.6%, followed by Newcastle (4.5%), Swansea (5.8%), and Newport (6.7%), all ranking among the coldest locations for new-build homebuyer activity in Q4.
Newport recorded the sharpest quarterly decline in demand, falling by 8%, while Sheffield saw a 7.6% reduction. Bristol also cooled notably, down 5.2%, while Aberdeen (4.5%), Leicester (4.3%) and Plymouth (3.4%) also saw sharp drops. Demand in London edged down by 0.4%, continuing its gradual softening.
Despite widespread decline in new-build demand at the end of 2025, pockets of resilience remained within the market. Southampton continued to lead the way, with 39.7% of new-build homes going under offer. Nottingham followed with demand at 25.6%, narrowly ahead of Sheffield at 25.5%, while Portsmouth (24.7%) and Bournemouth (22.9%) also posted relatively strong levels of buyer interest.
Nottingham recorded the strongest quarterly growth in Q4, with demand rising by 7.5%. Glasgow saw an uplift of 3.3%, while Portsmouth increased by 3%. Bournemouth also edged up by 0.4%, highlighting that select markets continued to attract new-build buyers as the year drew to a close, despite wider headwinds.
"New-build buyer demand has continued to ease as we closed out Q4, with fewer than one in five homes securing a buyer and momentum softening both quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year," said Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at Property Inspect.
"Ongoing affordability pressures, a higher-for-longer interest rate environment and continued uncertainty around the direction of housing policy have combined to keep many buyers on the sidelines. With new-build homes typically priced at a premium, it's unsurprising that this part of the market has felt the impact most acutely."
However, she noted that the outlook is not universally downbeat. Well-presented new-build stock can still generate strong levels of demand across much of the country, even in a more cautious market. "But homes will not attract buyers by default: they must be constructed and finished to a high quality standard that creates confidence in buyers," she added.
"This reinforces the growing importance of quality, compliance and consistency. At Property Inspect, we work with developers and agents to deliver smarter inspection and reporting solutions that help ensure new homes are brought to market at the highest possible standard, supporting buyer confidence and sales performance as market conditions remain challenging."
