New figures show building approvals and starts are lagging well short of the pace needed to meet the Territory’s 2029 housing goal.

The ACT is slipping further behind its National Housing Accord target of 21,030 homes by June 2029, with the latest data showing approvals and new build starts remain significantly below required levels.

To stay on track, the Territory needs to deliver 4206 homes a year – or just over 350 a month. However, data published by Master Builders Australia shows that in the 18 months from July 2024 to December 2025, 5157 new homes were approved, more than 1100 short of target.

New home starts were also below target, with 3988 recorded over the same period against a target of 5258.

According to the figures, approval rates would need to increase by 31.9 per cent and new home starts by 42.4 per cent to make up the shortfall.

Master Builders ACT CEO Anna Neelagama said the industry was ready to deliver but needed support to boost supply.

“It’s starting to feel like a race we can’t win,” she said.

“While the building and construction industry stands ready to deliver, we need to look seriously at how we can fast-track reforms that cut red tape and boost housing supply. We also need to place on hold any non-essential new regulatory reform.

“Our industry continues to carry the weight of outdated planning systems, mounting red tape, chronic skills shortages and growing regulatory burdens.”

Ms Neelagama said longer-term investment in skills was also critical, pointing to National Apprenticeship Week and its theme, “Getting it Done”.

“This is a timely reminder that to get done the work of delivering housing for Canberra’s future, there needs to be a radical boost to skills investment. That means more direct support to get more people into construction trades and grow the industry,” she said.