The total value of all new construction contracts signed in the UK in April, as recorded by the Builders鈥� Conference, was 拢4.07bn, split between 612 separate contracts and 354 different contractors.聽 The total was down on March鈥檚 拢4.8bn but April began with the Easter break.
Kier is clearly chasing new business keenly, having topped the BCLive league three times in the past four months. Its biggest contract in April was a 拢200m contract to build 750 new homes and community facilities in Hardinsgtone in Northants for Homes England.
In fact, house-building contracts were responsible for all the top five positions in the league table and contributed 拢1.64bn to the monthly total. Engie UK, formerly Keepmoat, made its first appearance in the BCLive league table top 10, claiming the number two spot thanks largely to a 拢250m house-building contract for Glasgow City Council.
In an unusual move, the Builders鈥� Conference put developer Redrow Homes in third place, on the basis of it starting 12 new housing projects with a combined development value of 拢204m.聽
Wates was fourth, with a total of 拢194m of new business, including a 拢60m deal to build flats for Quintain in Wembley.
Builders鈥� Conference chief executive Neil Edwards said: 鈥淚f you relied upon nothing but national newspaper and TV coverage for your reading of the current state of play in the UK construction industry, you would likely be sounding the sector鈥檚 death knell by now.聽聽 Similarly, if you relied purely upon supposed market sentiment, you鈥檇 be calling for the reading of the industry鈥檚 last rites. Yet the cold, hard facts from the BCLive league table prove that, since January 2018, the industry has consistently topped the 拢4 billion mark for new contract awards.聽聽 In fact, it has adhered to a level that many consider to be the post-recession norm that it has become almost tedious in its consistency and predictability.鈥�
However, sounding a note of caution, he added: 鈥淲hile the housing sector is running in top gear to meet ambitious government targets, the infrastructure required to serve those new homes 鈥� road and rail links, sewerage 鈥� apparently remains in neutral.鈥�
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