星空传媒

A new report published by the Construction Products Association has found that in the last 12 months alone product manufacturers and suppliers have seen an average increase of 42% in electricity and 拢37% in gas prices.

The direct result of rising energy prices has been to add 拢1.6bn to the cost of construction products.

Chief executive Michael Ankers said: 鈥淯K companies have also experienced far sharper increase in energy pices than their competitors on the continent, and while we may have started from a price advantage, we are now paying more for energy than many of these companies overseas and this is having an adverse effect on the competitiveness of companies in the UK.鈥�

Although prices have stabilised in the last few weeks, long terms contracts will mean continuing high costs for some firms which the CPA predicts will add a further 拢800m to construction cost during the winter.

Ankers said: 鈥淪piralling energy prices are set to add 拢2.4bn to the cost of construction in this country over a two year period, 40% of which falls directly on the public sector as the industry鈥檚 major client.鈥�

He warned that the government should consider this carefully when putting together next year鈥檚 Comprehensive Spending Review as price rises could have a direct impact on schemes such as 星空传媒 Schools for the Future, government hospitals, social homes and public transport.