Levels of construction work continue to fall - 14-10-2008 - 13:25

The number of construction projects in the UK has continued to fall with little sign of a short-term improvement, according to statistics from the Federation of Master Builders (FMB).

With people looking for construction jobs struggling to find vacancies, the FMB's State of Trade Survey for the third quarter of 2008 revealed workloads in the construction sector had fallen to their lowest levels for ten years.

Private housebuilders have been hardest hit, with more than 60 per cent of respondents reporting a fall in their workload compared to the previous quarter.

Commenting on the figures, Brian Berry, director of external affairs at FMB, told Building.co.uk: "The situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate and the government needs to take urgent action if the building industry is not to suffer any further."

Mr Berry suggested that the government should implement a five-point plan to help the building industry: ensuring that homes are energy efficient, cutting VAT on maintenance, making the planning system more straightforward, axing the Community Infrastructure Levy and reforming stamp duty.

The findings also revealed that 34 per cent of construction firms were planning a reduction of their workforce over the next six months.

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