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Positive signs in the construction sector

UK construction workloads have turned positive for the first time in two years, although the North of England still lags behind the South.

Reports from chartered surveyors around the country show the industry remains concerned by the recent political instability, the lack of development funding and the threat of public sector cuts.

According The latest RICS UK Construction Market Survey, In the North, the improvement is evident but not as positive, still in negative territory as momentum builds from the South.

The net balance of Northern chartered surveyors reporting an increase in workloads changed from -16 in Q4 2009 to a -7% in the first quarter of this year. Michael Henning, RICS North East construction market spokesperson and a chartered surveyor with Summers Inman, said: “On the positive side, it looks like the patient is finally out of intensive care with RICS figures showing improvement.

“There have undoubtedly been some positive signs in the market in recent months and the region’s surveyors are hopeful to see further improvements. However, to put this into context, the patient is still a long way from full recovery and it is unlikely that levels will return to the highs of 2008 soon.

“In the North East, despite lagging behind the national figures, levels are picking up but even the region’s eternally optimistic chartered surveyors are concerned over the uncertainty caused by the new coalition government’s cuts, due to be announced next week.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .