The latest Construction Trade Survey, published today, shows that conditions in Q2 improved across all construction sectors and throughout the supply chain.

Even small and medium-sized businesses, hit hardest by the downturn, reported their first rise in activity since 2007. Private housing was one of the key contributors to the improving workloads, together with a ‘catch-up’ across many sectors following a poor first three months of 2013, when adverse weather significantly affected output.

Industry prospects are also showing signs of improvement, with manufacturers, specialists, civil engineers, and SME contractors all reporting more orders for future work.

Key survey findings include:

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on balance.

Noble Francis

Noble Francis

“Forecasts from the Association anticipate that construction output will rise 2.2% in 2014 and a further 4.5% in 2015, driven by both private housing and infrastructure. To ensure growth in infrastructure, it is essential that all the announcements we have heard over the past three years actually turn into activity on the ground. This has not happened so far, as infrastructure output fell 13% last year.”

Stephen Ratcliffe

Stephen Ratcliffe

“Any improvement should be set against the difficult conditions of the last few years,” he said. “The survey shows increased workloads for contractors in the second quarter, but the majority still report falling order books.

“Bringing forward public sector investment in construction projects will help sustain any recovery. The government has recognised the importance of the construction sector, and the industry will continue to work with ministers to develop a clearer pipeline of work in order to build further industry confidence.”

Julia Evans

Julia Evans

Meanwhile,

Meanwhile,