UK construction output plummets to five-year low Economics The UK’s construction output hit a five-year low in February as its fastest downturn since May 2020 continued. S&P Global’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index dropped to 44.6 in February, down from 48.1 in January. The latest figure indicated a steep decline in overall construction activity was propelled by a sluggish performance in residential buildings, [...]
Galliford Try shares jump as construction firm reports profit boost Property Shares in Galliford Try rose nearly eight per cent in early trades after the company reported a double-digit jump in revenue. Revenue increased 12.7 per cent to £923.2m in the six months to December 31, while profit before tax rose 22 per cent to £20.5m. The company also reported “increased confidence” and said revenue and [...]
The 13 skyscrapers set to redefine the City of London’s skyline Property The City of London Corporation has released new images visualising how the Square Mile’s skyline will look once all planning permissions have been constructed. To meet future demand, the City of London Corporation has laid out a goal to build an extra 1.2m sqm of new office space over the coming years. The City Cluster to the east, [...]
Taylor Wimpey: ‘The scene is set for recovery’ February 27, 2025 Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey has said government planning reforms are set to deliver a “step change” in the industry. The company made the comments alongside its 2024 results. Taylor built 10,593 homes in the year ended December 31, down slightly from 10,848 homes in 2023. Revenue fell 3.2 per cent, to £3.4bn, while operating profit fell [...]
Morgan Sindall hikes dividend as revenue hits record February 26, 2025 Morgan Sindall, the UK-based construction and regeneration group, has reported record results for the year ending 31 December 2024. The group recorded a 10 per cent increase in revenue to £4.55bn, while adjusted operating profit rose 15 per cent to £162.6m. Adjusted profit before tax grew by 19 per cent to £172.5m, with adjusted earnings [...]
Lessons for Man Utd from Everton’s new stadium – by the architect behind it February 18, 2025 The architect behind the new Everton Stadium on marrying history with future and why Manchester United chiefs should take note as they plot an Old Trafford rebuild. American architect Dan Meis knew he was going out on a limb when he submitted his design for Everton’s new stadium. Eschewing the trend for modern spacecraft-like arenas, [...]
Barratt Redrow shares rise on double-digit growth fuelled by merger February 12, 2025 Housebuilding giant Barratt Redrow has announced a significant jump in profit in the wake of Barratt’s acquisition of Redrow last year. Home completions rose 10.4 per cent to 6,864 in the six months ended December 29, while revenue rose 23.2 per cent to £2.28bn. Following its strong figures, Barratt Redrow’s shares rose by more than [...]
UK construction activity falls sharply as confidence plunges February 6, 2025 UK construction activity fell sharply in January, ending a 10-month streak of expansion as higher borrowing costs, gloomy economic prospects and weak client confidence hit the sector. S&P Global’s UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index fell to 48.1 last month, down from 53.3 in December and well below the 53.4 expected by analysts. “The overall construction [...]
‘Prohibitive building costs’ stunting UK growth projects – Deloitte February 4, 2025 “Prohibitive costs” involved in construction projects in major UK cities led to a sharp decline in the number of new developments breaking ground in 2024, according to a new report from Deloitte. Deloitte’s latest Regional Crane Surveys, which covers the central areas of Belfast, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, has revealed the number of new starts [...]
Business confidence dips but the UK ‘has what it takes to deliver growth’ January 31, 2025 Overall business confidence slipped in January, although it was driven down by poorer sentiment about the wider economy rather than about individual businesses. Overall business confidence dipped two points to 37 per cent, with just over half of businesses positive about their own trading prospects and just under a quarter positive about the wider economy. [...]