New figures have revealed the impact of the wet weather on the number of projects started at the end of last year…
Significant rainfall in the three months to January had a major impact on the number of new project starts, it has emerged.
Figures from construction experts Glenigan showed there was a 20 per cent fall in the value of project starts during this time, which were said to be due to the weather. The figures mean the winter of 2015 was the worst for the sector since 2013.
Painting a bleak picture, Glenigan said its monthly barometer of project starts has been in negative territory for eight out of the last 10 months.
The data showed office construction saw a slight boost, but residential, non-residential, and civil engineering work all saw a decline.
According to the data, the only UK nation to see starts increase above the levels seen last year was Wales.
Glenigan’s Economics Director Allan Wilén said: “The atrocious weather has clearly halted project starts.”
“This has exacerbated an already evident softening in workloads, with new construction activity now in the worst period of decline since crashing in 2009.”
He added: “The official output figures show R&M spending by both government and private institutions was already slowing in the second half of last year.”
“Glenigan’s data on project starts suggests that new build activity will also be constrained in the coming months.”
