Glenigan has released its August 2023 Construction Review, which shows stagnant construction activity and low project starts
This month’s Construction Review covers all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, providing a detailed analysis of year-on-year construction data.
The construction review aims to help built environment professionals better understand the sector’s performance over the last 12 months.
New project starts remain low, according to the Construction Review
The most significant finding of the August Construction Review is that new construction projects remained low in the three months leading up to the end of July. Central contracts also slowed as a result of a stalled economy.
Much of the poor performance can be attributed to external factors, such as rising interest rates and inflated costs for fuel materials and labour costs. New project starts have fallen 10% compared to the last review period and are 33% lower than the same time last year.
Glenigan has reported some positive findings in the Construction Review. While planning approvals declined by 26% compared to the last review period, the value of this sector increased by 37% compared to last year.
Major project planning approvals rose 167% compared to 2022 levels. This shows that recovery may be on the way for the industry.
“Starts on site are softening and, as global and national disruption continues, we’ll likely see clients continue to adopt a cautious approach, pushing back start dates until the economic landscape looks less hostile,” Glenigan’s economic director, Allan Wilen.
“Short-term, changing Government priorities in the run-up to the General Election are also likely to slow investment in major infrastructure projects, halting activity further,” he added.
There was a mixed performance across the sector
Residential construction grew by 21% but remained 26% lower than last year’s levels. Private housing starts increased by 40% but remained by 26% compared to 2022.
Social housing starts decreased by 25% compared to the previous three months and 21% compared to the previous year.
Non-residential performance was weak overall. The health sector showed growth of 23% compared to the preceding three months but still lagged behind by 25% compared to 2022.
Industrial projects also performed poorly, falling by 24% compared to the previous three months and by 51% compared to the same period in 2022. Hotel & Leisure and Retail starts decreased by 22% and 40%, respectively, compared to the preceding three months.
Education and Community & Amenity plans dropped by 34% and 36%, respectively, in comparison to the last period and stood at 7% and 40% lower than the previous year.
Infrastructure starts declined by 8% during the review period, finishing 45% below the previous year’s figures. Utilities start also declined by 43% in the three months ending July, resulting in a 49% decrease compared to a year ago.
