Construction contract awards remain buoyant but residential struggles

Following a strong start to the year, the value of new orders in construction eased slightly in February to £7.6bn – 10% down on January – Barbour ABI’s monthly industry Snapshot reveals.

Infrastructure, however, was up 76% month-on-month, the north west leading the way with £1.3bn in awards, including a hydrogen plant at Stanlow and a big project to improve traffic flow at Junction 18 of the M60.

A £1.2bn investment in the Port Talbot Steelworks Furnace fuels further growth too.

In London, large office developments helped the commercial and retail sector reach £1bn in awards while there has been a notable shift in healthcare this month – planning approvals are up 253%, with over half related to investment in Dorset County Hospital.

Barbour ABI’s chief analyst Ed Griffiths said: “Despite a fall in February awards, the improvement in 2025 continues, being 18% up on the same period in 2024.

“Infrastructure remains a bright spot with continued government focus on renewables and clean energy pointing to continued growth in this sector. The Spring Statement will be interesting to see if any "big ticket" infrastructure schemes are announced by Rachel Reeves.”

[edit] Skills shortages and regulatory delays

Mr Griffiths said the new planning reform bill “promised to speed up the planning system and get Britain building,” but he added: “planning delay are only one hurdle … viability and demand for new houses, skill shortages, fluctuations in material costs – all will have an impact.”

Barbour ABI’s February Snapshot reveals that residential fell back 45% to £1.4bn after a bounce in January. Approvals were down this month, falling 41% to £2.32bn, the lowest it has been in over a year.

Commercial and retail comes came back strongly after a subdued January with large office developments in London helping the sector reach £1bn in awards.

Regionally, the West Midlands continue to experience poor development with February down 50% on last month and the 2024 average. The East Midlands, on the other hand, has benefitted from the numerous solar and battery projects approved this month raising its approval value to £1.7bn.

While planning approval value has decreased by 19% in February to £8.5bn, it is still above the 2024 average.

--Barbour ABI