How does the state of the economy influence the construction industry?
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The housing market and the construction industry have long been used as indicators of the strength or weakness of the domestic economy. When the economy is sluggish, the housing market takes a down turn. If construction companies are not building or building contracts hard to come by, it is usually indicative of a slow economy. But why?
[edit] The ups and downs of the economy
The economy is about money, but it is also about confidence too. When the economy is sluggish, people don’t have the confidence to borrow money to buy property and neither do big construction companies have the investment to build large scale projects.
Construction is a cyclical industry meaning that when the economy is buoyant, it is an industry that gains strength.
But when the economy downturns, larger construction companies can suffer. For smaller construction businesses, this can be good news; customers may not be willing to invest in larger scale projects but they may want smaller projects completing.
[edit] A strong economy
A strong economy, or one considered to be on an upswing, has the effect of raising incomes and encouraging entrepreneurship. Rising incomes reinforces demand. With the confidence the spend the extra money in their pocket, people will often look to invest in property, ideal for planning for the future.
A construction company will take advantage of this financial confidence, creating bespoke construction solutions for private and commercial customers.
[edit] A weak economy
Lower incomes, or the fear of financial instability, knocks confidence and this means that people are far more conservative in not only how much they spend but what on. Taking on larger mortgages is not the first point of action for many people when the economy is sluggish.
For many businesses, especially construction companies, this is not good news. They don’t want to build large scale projects only to have them stand empty, with no demand. In some cases, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no demand but banks are not lending as freely as they once did.
This affects not just domestic projects but commercial construction projects too. However, there are counter considerations to this.
[edit] Solutions when the economy is sluggish
There are companies who look at the economy in a different way. When it is sluggish or in a down turn, it doesn’t mean that all building stops. Builders with a keen eye for offering different design and construction will service contracts, no matter what the state of the economy is.
For example, when budgets are tight but building solutions need to be found, customers can be more willing to try ‘something different’. And should a more cost-effective build solution come along, they will jump at the chance.
Consider modular building, for example. A modern, higher-quality version of pre-fabricated buildings. Unfortunately, for some time, these types of buildings have had a poor reputation. Used as temporary housing after the Second World War, they were used well-beyond their prime. They were poorly constructed, damp and cold.
But not so with the modern version of pre-fab buildings. Modular buildings are versatile. They can take on the façade of being old and traditional from the outside or they can be cutting edge, a beautiful piece of architecture that is practical, warm and eco-friendly.
But there is another advantage with modular buildings: they are cost-effective. Consuming fewer materials and energy to build, they are not only more environmentally friendly than traditional building processes, they also take less time to build. And as anyone in the construction industry knows, time is money.
Still using skilled tradespeople to design and build the modular units, the economy is not such a big concern for modular build companies. Agile and lean, they are a flourishing business with a product that is cost-effective, whether the economy is flat or riding the crest of a wave.
[edit] Demand and supply
There is constant media speculation relating to the lack of housing and how we need to be building so many thousands of new homes. And yet, this doesn’t seem to happen, a combination of finding suitable land, passing planning permission and finding the money to invest in such large-scale projects. And with Brexit on the horizon, it could become an even more complex situation.
Isn’t it time that demand and supply within construction are met without the economy dictating what and how properties are built?
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
Celebrating architecture's eloquent champions.
Unusual perspectives on 1960s’ thinking.
AI and the challenges to intellectual property
The legal landscape of adopting AI now and in the future.
Worrying landscape for Welsh construction SMEs revealed.
In recent risk factor analysis report completed by CIOB.
Construction Sport survey highlights risks of dehydration
Supporting construction workers to avoid dangers.
Can your business afford to ignore mental well-being?
£70 - 100 billion annually in UK construction sector.
Mental health in the construction industry
World Mental Health Day 10 October.
Construction awards provide relief in wake of ISG collapse
Spike in major infrastructure awards, housing up but short of targets, are ISG collapse impacts yet to come.
Biodiversity net gain with related updates and terms
Only 0.5% of applications subject to BNG in the context significant proposed changes to planning.
As political power has shifted from blue to red
Has planning now moved from brown to green?
The role of construction in tackling the biodiversity crisis
New CIOB Nature of Building digital series available now.
The Nature Towns and Cities initiative
Grants of up to 1 million for local councils and partners.
The continued ISG fall out October updates
Where to look for answers to frequently asked questions.
Building safety remediation programme for Wales
With 2024 October progress updates.
In major support package for small businesses.
Conservation and transformation
Reading Ruskin’s cultural heritage. Book review.