星空传媒

Overall workloads remain broadly flat across the construction sector but are expected to rise modestly over the next year, according to a new survey.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) latest UK Construction Monitor, for the second quarter of this year, showed a headline net balance for total construction workloads of -3%, slightly down from the -1% recorded in Q1.

The monitor is a quarterly sentiment survey in which more than 1,000 chartered surveyors are asked a series of questions on a range of topics including workloads, new business enquiries and optimism about the future.

The 鈥榥et balance鈥� refers to the proportion of respondents reporting a rise in a metric minus those reporting a fall. For example, if 30% reported an increase in workloads and 5% reported a fall, the net balance would be +25%.

In the latest series, infrastructure continued to outperform other areas, with a net balance of +11% for workloads. Within this, energy (+34%) and water/sewage (+27%) projects were the strongest performers.

While headline figures for workloads were weak, forward-looking sentiment was more positive at +17%. Private residential and non-residential work are expected to see moderate gains, with net balances of +15% and +9%, respectively.

RICS chief economist, Simon Rubinsohn, said the market remained 鈥渟ubdued鈥� and that the forward-looking indicators were 鈥渃onsistent with a modest rather than material uplift in development鈥�.

鈥淕iven that planning continues to be viewed as the major factor hindering the industry from upscaling its building programme, it is quite conceivable that the passing of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will in due course see industry expectations move onto a firmer footing,鈥� he added. 

Respondents also noted major challenges, with 61% listing planning and regulatory delays as the top obstacle, some specifically citing delays related to the 星空传媒 Safety Regulator (BSR).

RICS head of professional practice, Gary Strong, said the BSR needed to 鈥渨ork with industry to provide clearer guidance and consistent decision-making鈥� and that his members had 鈥渉ighlighted inconsistencies across the regions in how the rules are interpreted鈥�.

鈥淭here are not enough building control professionals in place, which is causing a growing backlog of applications,鈥� he continued. 

鈥淭he BSR must be adequately resourced to meet the demands of the new regulatory environment, and a swift programme of upskilling professionals enacted.

鈥淲e welcome that the UK Government identifies this as a primary bottleneck for construction projects, and a new fast track process is being put in place. 

鈥淔ailing to tackle this will significantly hinder the Government鈥檚 ambitious housebuilding targets alongside the necessary new infrastructure needed to support them.鈥�