Private housing construction up 4%

Date: 23/01/2012 14:58:43

Companies using mobile data software have seen private housing construction increase by four per cent in the three months to the end of December when compared with last year.

According to figures published by industry analyst Glenigan, the rise is due, in part, to a number of high value projects starting on site, including a £70 million development by United House for NHP Leisure.

Other schemes included the building of ten luxury flats in the Shard in London, a £36 million project in Trowbridge and one costing £24 million in Oldham.

James Abraham, economist with Glenigan, said that government cut-backs caused social housing projects to fall 27 per cent, while non-residential construction saw a 17 per cent drop.

Regionally, "Wales, the south-east and south-west of England enjoyed an increase in the year-on-year flow of new work in the final quarter of 2011," he explained.

The construction industry as a whole fared less well, with project starts for the fourth quarter falling six per cent when compared to 2010.