Commenting on the figures, Noble Francis, Economics Director of the Construction Products Association said "These latest output figures illustrate that given the dramatic fall in private sector work, it is more important than ever that government maintains its capital investment programme in housing provision, transport, education and health facilities to provide better infrastructure and ensure a skilled workforce for economic recovery.
In addition, the recent independent study by LEK Consulting highlights the benefits of investment in construction to the UK economy, with every £1 speant on constrution generating £2.84 in economic activity. We hope that the Chancellor recognises this and highlights the importance of capital investment in constructyion in next week's Pre Budget Report".
The main growth in public capital spending was:
- Public housing where output was 14% higher in Q3 than in the previous quarter
- Work on schools, hospitals and the Olympics, which was 7% higher than in Q2 and 31% higher than in Q3 of 2008
- Work on the railway network which was 14% higher than a year ago, whilst construction output on roads was 19% higher.
In contrast, private sector construction activity continued to fall sharply:
- Output on industrial projects fell 35% compared with the third quarter of last year
- Commercial activity (offices and retail) fell 29% over the same period
- Output on private housing was still 12% lower than the previous quarter, although there are now signs of a slow recovery in this sector.
Reflecting on the prospects going forward, Francis said;
"With continued falls in the new orders figures across the private sector any recovery in the construction industry over the next 12 months depends critically on the government sustaining its current spending plans, and this will be a key part of the discussions we have with all the political parties in the run up to next year's Election."
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