Construction market 'helped by private housing sector'

Posted: 19 May 2011 11:52:25 GMT

The private housing sector is playing a role in an upturn for the construction market, it has been found.

The construction market is benefitting from rising workloads in the private housing and commercial sectors, new research has suggested.

According to the latest Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) Construction Market Survey, overall jobs in both public and private sectors increased in the first quarter of 2011 - rising from a net balance of -5 to +6.

Indeed, the private housing sector alone witnessed a hike in activity from -10 to +8.

Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at Rics, said: "We are particularly encouraged by the indications that the private sector is not only seeing an increase in workloads but planning to raise employment."

He warned, however, that the construction industry is likely to face tough times ahead when the impending spending cuts are introduced.

Steve Turner, head of communications at the Home Builders Federation, recently claimed greater clarity is required with regards to the house building planning system in the UK.
 

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