More

    Fears of slump deepen with new forecast

    Fears of a recession in construction output were confirmed today by a new forecast of a 6.4% drop in 2023, even worse than the 4.7% predicted only three months ago. Private House building and repair/...

    Rising costs continue to dampen product growth optimism

    Light side construction products showed growth for a ninth quarter in succession while increases in energy, fuel and materials costs continue to add uncertainty to the immediate future, according to the Construction Products Association’s...

    Get housing out of ‘planning purgatory’ – FMB

    The government has been urged to release extra funding to train more planning staff to reverse the worsening housing crisis highlighted in the latest ONS figures. The call comes from FMB chief Brian Berry, who...

    House building down, commercial up but sourcing eases further – S&P

    House building saw its fastest decline in almost three years last month while commercial building saw some increase, though more slowly than its February peak, according to the latest survey of purchasing managers. However, the...

    Mixed reaction to plans to lower barrier on foreign workers to ease skills shortage

    Government plans to ease the industry’s chronic shortfall of workers and skills by loosening the rules on employing foreign workers have had a mixed reception from industry bodies. The aim to extend the existing Shortage...

    Supplier delays and inflation ease but housing slows – S&P

    Supplier delays and input cost inflation around the industry have begun to recede but housing activity fell for a third month in a row amid an overall picture of construction growth, according to the...

    ‘We need retrofit strategy, not another reshuffle’ – FMB

    Another cabinet reshuffle – including the fifth new housing minister in 12 months – will do nothing to ease the woes of SMEs without bold policy action, says the FMB in response to the...

    Construction down …optimism up – S&P reports

    A sharp decline in house building has led to the fastest fall in construction output since May 2020, while business expectations rebounded to the highest confidence level in six months, according to the latest...

    Homes and RMI to take the brunt of recession forecast amid ‘less friendly govt...

    UK construction output is predicted to fall by 4.7% this year with house building and RMI feared to be the worst hit before recovering with a marginal growth of just 0.6% next year, according...

    Recession fear drives fall in construction confidence

    Confidence amongst constructors dropped into negative territory last month for the first time since the initial Covid-19 wave and for only the sixth time on record amid expectations of a recession and poor demand...