Lords call to ‘get SMEs back’ to fight new homes shortfall
The UK could be 25,000 homes a year nearer to tackling the urgent housing crisis if the sharp decline in the contribution of SME housebuilders could be reversed, according to a report published yesterday...
Supply chain jitters fail to dampen construction product growth
Sales of construction products continued to grow in Q4 2020 despite growing concerns over material and component import issues, according to the latest Construction Product Association’s (CPA) State of Trade Survey.
The increase reflects a...
Rising costs and economic uncertainty hit growth
UK construction companies reported another strong rise in business activity during April, but the speed of recovery lost momentum amid weaker new order gains, according to the latest CIPS Construction PMI report from S&P...
‘Look beyond cities’ FMB tells Gove
Plans revealed today by housing secretary Michael Gove to release more brownfield sites for housebuilding have gained cautious industry approval but the Federation of Master Builders says they must look beyond just the cities.
The...
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...
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...
Supply crisis sees construction drop below pre-pandemic levels
Construction output fell by 1.6% in July, taking it 1.8% below the February 2020 pre-pandemic level, while the repair and maintenance sector grew by 0.6% – amounting to £27million – in the same period,...
Home Office adds more trades to easier visa list for foreign workers
Industry bodies have welcomed the confirmation by the Home Office that more trades including carpenters, joiners, roof workers and other construction workers have been added to the Shortage Occupation List giving workers from overseas...
Are we heading for a full-blown summer recession? – Barbour
Levels of contract awards and planning approvals last month were well below those seen in March, according to the latest monthly Snap Analysis from Barbour ABI.
Chief Economist Tom Hall said: “After a stellar performance...
Stricter payment rules for public contracts take effect
New prompt payment rules that could see slow-paying contractors facing a ban on bidding for public work have now come into force.
Companies bidding for large contracts must now show they can pay all invoices...
