Skip to main content

Value of UK construction projects up 67.1% in past year

The value of construction projects in the UK has shot up by 67.1% in the last year, according to a new report. New project contracts awarded in December 2013 totalled €7.31 billion (£6 billion), compared to €4.38 billion (£3.6 billion) in the same month in 2012. The infrastructure sector proved to be an area of significant growth last month, with the total value of projects awarded reaching €2.68 billion (£2.2 billion), a 10.6% increase from November 2013 and a huge 101.6% year-on-year growth.
January 24, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
The value of construction projects in the UK has shot up by 67.1% in the last year, according to a new report. New project contracts awarded in December 2013 totalled €7.31 billion (£6 billion), compared to €4.38 billion (£3.6 billion) in the same month in 2012.

The infrastructure sector proved to be an area of significant growth last month, with the total value of projects awarded reaching €2.68 billion (£2.2 billion), a 10.6% increase from November 2013 and a huge 101.6% year-on-year growth.

These latest figures, taken from Barbour ABI's Economic & Construction Market Review, also highlight sustained growth in the residential construction sector, which continues to be boosted by initiatives such as the Government's Help to Buy scheme. The total contract value for December in this sector grew by 88.2% year-on-year.

On the findings of the report, Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, said, "Residential construction remained strong throughout the latter half of 2013 and has truly spurred on the growth of the industry. In the most part, the increase in residential activity can be attributed to the Government's Help to Buy scheme, but there are concerns that demand created by such schemes will surpass the rate of house building. This is a topic that will be the source of major debate over the next 12 months in the lead up to the 2015 elections.

"The performance of infrastructure as a sub-sector is also incredibly encouraging. The figures are a reflection of an exciting year of renewed optimism for the construction industry and, as a major contributor to figures for the industry as a whole, the sustained period of strong project values in this sector is good news and a key indicator for future growth.

"The National Infrastructure Plan, as published by the Government on December 4th 2013, updated the top 40 infrastructure projects in the pipeline for the UK, outlining a pathway for potential growth. An increase in new orders data recorded by Barbour ABI encourages me to suggest that the sector does have strong growth potential this year."

As well as highlighting key sub-sector trends within the construction industry, data in the report also identifies regional variations in overall construction performance. Last month, Wales took the lead as the most prominent area, accounting for 19% of the UK total. This is largely attributable to an €975.27 million (£800 million) waste treatment project announced in Clwyd, providing a huge boost to the figures. London accounted for 18% of all contracts awarded, while Yorkshire and the Humber and the South East were not too far behind, each accounting for 13% and 12% of the total respectively.

The Economic & Construction Market Review is a monthly report designed to give valuable, current insight into UK construction industry performance. The Review is compiled from Barbour ABI's records of construction data for every UK planning application, and key indicators, such as the 3598 Office for National Statistics' Construction New Orders data.

The Economic and Construction Market Review will be published monthly and is available to download at %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal http://bit.ly/1eUKB9P download at - http://bit.ly/1eUKB9P false http://bit.ly/1eUKB9P false false%>

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Strabag reports output volume remained flat for year end 2014
    February 16, 2015
    Austrian construction giant Strabag reported output volume of €13.6 billion to year end 2014 was unchanged from last year. The publically listed group, with headquarters in Vienna, said declines in contracts in some countries were offset with increases in the home markets of Germany and Austria, despite a “very restrained tender award policy” for the public sector. Large projects were completed in Romania and Russia at the same time that newly acquired orders in these markets have not yet come on stream.
  • Volvo CE achieve best ever Q1 sales
    April 27, 2012
    Volvo CE has reported record first quarter year sales. Sales between January 1 and March 31, 2012 were up 17% on the same three months of 2011. Despite a 26% decline in the overall construction machine sales market in China during the first quarter of this year, Volvo CE says it maintained sales in the country and reinforced what the company claims is its number one position in the Chinese wheel loader and excavator market together with its joint-venture partner, SDLG. Volvo CE says it achieved a 111% incre
  • Hill & Smith results 'in line with outlook'
    February 27, 2012
    Hill & Smith Holdings says it has delivered a performance in the first half of 2011 in line with the outlook given at the time of the full-year results in March.
  • Loadrite introduces its 360° load-out management system
    April 18, 2013
    The new Loadrite 360° management system has been designed to boost efficiency in quarries by integrating communication across all stages of an order for faster turnarounds and maximised payloads. Loadrite said that the system improves communication throughout the load-out operations. It is aimed at providing quarry managers with the tools they need to get the most from both staff and equipment. Benefits include lower costs per tonne and optimised truck utilisation, said the company.