Barbour ABI reports big surge in activity
Construction and retail construction contracts in August almost doubled compared to the same month in 2013 — according to Barbour ABI, the chosen provider of the Government’s Construction & Infrastructure Pipeline. The value of these contracts totalled over £870 million in August, a 95.8% increase on the same month last year and 17.4% higher than July.
The report shows that the sector accounted for 26% of the total value of all construction contracts in the UK, with 54% of them awarded in London.
Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, commented, ‘Commercial and retail construction has seen a real resurgence recently. This is mainly due to big-ticket projects in London and further afield — such as the £420 million contract for Fenchurch Street and £100 million commercial developments in Branston, Staffordshire, and Botley in Oxfordshire.
‘Offices were the dominant type of project in the sector, accounting for 71% of the value of contracts awarded in August, with general retailing at 23%. Looking ahead, the sector should continue to proposer as long as London remains an attractive proposition for investors.’
The overall value of construction contracts awarded in London totalled over £1.6 billion in August and accounted for 30% of the overall contracts awarded UK-wide.
UK-wide, construction contracts totalled over £5.3 billion in august, a 16.6% increase on the value recorded in August 2013.
