According to the latest statistics collated by the Builders鈥� Conference, contract awards during July 2016 were down 15% in number and 35% by value compared to June 2016.
And compared to July 2015, the value of new contracts was down 55% year-on-year. Neil Edwards, chief executive of the Builders' Conference, described the decline as 'staggering'.
This time last year, the Builders鈥� Conference BCLive league table鈥檚 rolling year cumulative total was riding high at an unprecedented 拢56bn. Today, that rolling year figure is down by 18% at 拢46 billion.
According to Builders鈥� Conference data, the total value of new construction orders signed off in July 2016 was just 拢2,944m. The previous month it was 拢4,543m. In July 2015 it was 拢6,631m.
"As the industry winds down for its summer holidays, many among its ranks will not have the benefit of some hard-earned rest and recuperation," Neil Edwards said. "Instead, they will be worrying just what they will be coming back to when that holiday is over."
Top of the BCLive league table for July 2016 was Balfour Beatty, which picked up six new contracts with a combined value of 拢314.3m. The largest of these was a 拢170m contract to upgrade baggage handling facilities at Heathrow Airport.
In second place was Morgan Sindall, which picked up 拢123m-worth of new business from 23 individual separate contracts. Morgan Sindall鈥檚 largest contract in the month was a 拢15m order booked by subsidiary Overbury to fit out the Royal Bank of Scotland鈥檚 Islington offices.
Keepmoat claimed the number three position on the BCLive league table with 拢130.2m of orders, including a 拢50m contract from Great Places Housing Group.
However, the story could have been very different had EDF Energy been allowed to sign construction contracts for the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station. Contract signings nearly took place on 29th July but the government put the brakes on.
Contracts that were nearly signed in July include , earmarked since 2012 for Bouygues Travaux Publics/Laing O鈥橰ourke joint venture (BYLOR).
Then there is the and a further 拢840m of business for .
If new prime minister Theresa May had not decided to intervene and block the nuclear project pending a further review , July 2106鈥檚 new contract awards total would have been more than double its actual total, topping 拢6bn.
BCLive Top 20 for July 2016
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