A decline in house building sees fastest fall since May 2020 for construction output, as reported by S&P Global / CIPS UK Construction PMI, which is a major concern for the future of the building industry and construction workloads, says the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB said: “While it is somewhat reassuring to see optimism about a bounce back in construction activity in January, the downward trend in house building is alarming for the FMB’s SME member firms. A fall in both new orders and employment levels is also of major concern, as this highlights that the issues within the industry are not isolated to one area alone, but they are in fact widespread.”
Berry continued: “While the industry is doing all it can to bounce back from the pressures of recent years, more direct investment and intervention is needed in order to provide a sustainable solution for the future of construction. The FMB is on board with the Government’s ambitions to deliver more homes, but in order to do so we need to see an increase in funding to local authority planning departments at the Budget, a more simplified planning system, and awareness of the cost consequences of various environmental measures on the smallest firms.”
Notes to editors
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) is the largest trade association in the UK construction industry representing thousands of firms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Established in 1941 to protect the interests of small and medium-sized (SME) construction firms, the FMB is independent and non-profit making, lobbying for members’ interests at both the national and local level.
The FMB is a source of knowledge, professional advice and support for its members, providing a range of modern and relevant business building services to help them succeed. The FMB is committed to raising quality in the construction industry and offers a free Find a Builder service to consumers.
