Fresh figures show that new construction orders in the UK rose 10% in the year to November (2005) from a year earlier, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

New orders between September and November rose by 20% compared to the same period in 2004 and by 6% compared with the previous quarter.

Increases were seen in all sectors except private housing orders and public non-housing (excluding infrastructure), the DTI said.

Private housing orders fell 11% in the three months to November from the previous three months, while public non-housing orders fell by 13%. Public housing and housing association orders, however, escalated by 40% while infrastructure orders were up 10%.

Private commercial orders rose 31% over the three months and private industrial orders dropped 11%, reports the DTI.