Has the construction industry been affected by Brexit’s “creeping paralysis”?

730 565 Hamish Kilburn
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Has the construction industry been affected by Brexit’s “creeping paralysis”?

A new study by Barbour ABI shows that the value of all construction contract awards in the UK has decreased by 2.5 per cent from September to August of this year…

The value of all construction contract awards in September 2019 was £4.7 billion based on a three-month rolling average, which is a decrease of 2.5 per cent on August, and a decrease of 15.6 per cent when compared to September 2018.

The latest edition of the Economic & Construction Market Review from industry analysts Barbour ABI, highlights levels of construction contract values awarded across Great Britain.

“This week has seen intense political debate in Parliament following the announcement that the UK Government and the EU have agreed upon a Brexit deal,” said Tom Hall, Chief Economist at Barbour ABI and AMA Research. “With no clear decision on Brexit, this is inevitably impacting the construction industry, while uncertainty remains, so will caution.”

The two largest project awards in September were both publicly funded road developments awarded by Highways England. In the South West, this was the dualling of the A303 between Sparkford and Ilchester in Somerset and in the East of England, improvements to the A47 including the provision of a dual carriageway between North Tuddenham and Easton in Norwich.

Rebecca Larkin, Senior Economist at the Construction Products Association commented: “The impacts are most striking in privately-financed construction, where a lack of commercial projects in the top ten highlights how the current political and economic uncertainty is stifling business and investor confidence and reducing the pipeline of offices and retail developments across Great Britain.”

Hotel Designs supports the Building and Construction Summit, a unique event for senior construction, property developers and contracts professionals to meet with competitive and innovative suppliers. The meet-the-buyer event takes place on March 16 – 17, 2020 at Radisson Blu Stansted. If you would like more information on this event, please contact Daniella Batchelor if you are a supplier to the industry and Josh Oxberry if you are a buyer to the industry. 

Main image credit: Pixabay

 

Hamish Kilburn / 25.10.2019

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