Construction and flooring sectors remain active despite the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis

The Government’s commitment to keeping construction sites open despite second wave COVID-19 restrictions is reassuring news for the sector, our members and the flooring industry as a whole, with evidence of some confidence returning.

Back in March, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said construction sites were allowed to remain open with social distancing measures. This is still the case, despite the changing landscape of regional and national lockdowns.

Thanks to government spending on infrastructure, contract awards are returning, and the overall picture is looking brighter.

Latest industry analysis by Barbour ABI shows the total value of construction contract awards in September 2020 was £5.4 billion based on a three-month rolling average. This is 21.2% higher than for August and is also 13.8% higher than September 2019.

Elsewhere, in its Autumn Scenarios forecast, the Construction Products Association (CPA) predicts that output could grow by 13.5% next year. Activity is being powered by pent-up demand in private housing and the completion of refurbishment work that stopped when sites were closed following lockdown in March.