Mike Ormesher

The UK housing sector often frames its challenge as a question of volume: how do we build more homes, more quickly and more affordably? Yet as the industry continues its transition towards Industrialised Construction, Modern Methods of Construction (MMC), Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) and platform-based delivery models, another challenge is emerging that may prove equally important: How do we build confidence in what we are delivering? Recent industry work from GS1 UK and the...

By Mike Ormesher, Ottersbrook Consulting The Government's ambition to increase council housebuilding is welcome. Few would argue against the need for more affordable homes, stronger local authority delivery and greater housing supply. But recent housing data highlights an important reality. The challenge facing the UK housing sector is not ambition. It's delivery. Latest ONS figures show that 40,770 homes were started across the UK in Q1 2026, up 14% on the previous year and the highest...

Recent industry forecasts suggest that UK private housing output could fall by around 10% in 2026 as developers face a combination of affordability pressures, higher borrowing costs, increasing regulatory obligations and market uncertainty. At first glance, the outlook appears concerning. However, a closer look at recent housing supply data presents a more complex picture. Government statistics show that new build housing starts during the first quarter of 2026 were 18% higher than the same...