London housebuilders are pocketing the biggest new-build profits
Property developer StripeHomes has revealed that London new-build homes are currently selling for 102% more than the cost of construction, meaning new-build homebuyers in the region are paying the highest premium to the pockets of the capital’s housebuilders.
In London, the average construction cost of a new-build home is currently £250,148. In the last two years, this cost has increased by 4.6%, the third-largest increase behind Scotland (5.2%) and the central regions of the Midlands, Wales and the East of England (5.8%).
Over the same time, the price paid for new-build homes in the capital has increased by the smallest margin at 2.4%.
However, despite this, housebuilders in the region are still seeing the largest mark-up between the cost of construction and the price charged to new-build homebuyers. The current average new-build house price in London is £505,141, by far the highest of all areas of Britain.
As a result, London’s housebuilders are selling new-build stock at a 102% mark-up when compared to the average cost of actually building each home.
In contrast, the North East and North West represent the best value for new-build homebuyers when it comes to the premiums charged and profits made by housebuilders in the area.
The average overall cost of constructing a new build in the North is currently £151,366, having increased at the lowest rate in Britain over the last two years (4.4%). At the same time, the average price of a new-build has increased by 5%; the third-largest uplift in property values.
Despite this, the average new-build house price is currently just £209,982, meaning housebuilders in the North are pocketing just a 39% mark-up when compared to the cost of construction. The lowest in Britain.
Managing Director of StripeHomes, James Forrester, commented: “Property development is a business at the end of the day and so no one can really blame developers for making a profit. However, it’s clear that this level of profit differs drastically from one area of Britain to the next, with London’s new-build homebuyers paying a far higher profit premium than elsewhere around the nation.
“It’s fair to say that the North is home to the most reasonable new-build balance between developer profits and homebuyer benefits. While the cost of construction has increased at a similar rate to elsewhere around the nation, the cost of building remains low.
“At the same time, the cost of buying is also the most affordable despite homebuyers seeing a good level of appreciation where house price growth is concerned. So it’s a win-win for all parties involved.”
Wider UK Region | Construction cost per property | 2 Year Growth (%) | Average price | 2 Year Growth (%) | New-build mark up (%) |
North (North East and North West) | £151,366 | 4.4% | £209,982 | 5.0% | 38.73% |
Scotland | £150,213 | 5.2% | £218,927 | 7.3% | 45.74% |
Central (East of Eng, East Midlands, West Midlands, Wales) | £153,301 | 5.8% | £286,959 | 5.7% | 87.19% |
South (South East and South West) | £186,708 | 4.5% | £352,150 | 4.5% | 88.61% |
London | £250,148 | 4.6% | £505,141 | 2.4% | 101.94% |