State of UK construction 2013
It's easy to get confused by monthly figures and short-term trends. Here we take the long view, assessing construction output now compared to the last ten years.
The graph below is based on the chained volume measure of construction output in Great Britain: 2010 prices, non-seasonally adjusted - by sector, published by the Office for National Statistics on 9 August 2013. The dotted lines indicate the average output for each area over the last 10 years.
Whilst each area has shown some recovery in the last quarter, the overall picture is still 9% below the 10 year average and 16% below the 10 year peak.
New infrastructure works continue to prop up the industry, with output 18% above the ten year average, although with the post-credit crunch stimulus in decline, new infrastructure works are now 18% lower than their 2011 peak.
Housing has shown a dramatic increase in the last quarter, returning almost to its average level, although it remains 21% below its pre credit crunch peak.
Commercial and industrial construction remains 20% below the ten year average, despite gains in the last quarter, and repairs and maintenance are 9% below the ten year average, continuing what appears to be a long-term decline.
Overall, there are reasons for optimism, but there is a long way to go.
Featured articles and news
British Columbia and construction
A blueprint for the construction industry from Canada's west coast.
China's elaborate idea for a mass-transport system has been abandoned.
Read this article about the theories that characterise life in the hyperreal post-modern city.
Polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulation and how it was tested.
"We can’t sustain low density suburbs, density isn't a choice, it's a necessity." - Read our interview with the award-winning social housing architect Peter Barber.
Conservation area designation can be crucial, but treatment of individual parks varies considerably.
ICE publish new NEC4 Design, Build and Operate contract.
America's failing infrastructure
Report states $2 trillion is needed over the next 10 years to fix American roads.
What is the client's strategic brief for construction projects?
Read the story behind the world's most iconic festival stage, Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage.
First ever BREEAM Communities innovation credit is claimed by Temple Farm Development.
Read the story of Ronan Point, another disastrous event which had profound consequences for the construction industry.
CIOB to help conservation specialists gain recognition for their expertise with launch of new Certification Scheme.
BIM and the future of construction
A brief introduction to Building Information Modelling - is it the future of construction?
What is ACM cladding, what is it used for, and is it banned?
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.