The latest construction output figures published by the Office for National Statistics, has revealed a third successive month of growth. Monthly construction output grew by 17.6% in July 2020, following the record monthly growth of 23.5% in June 2020, and the level of construction output in July 2020 was only 11.6% below the February 2020 level.

Clive Docwra, managing director at construction, consulting and design agency McBains, said: “(These) figures will be welcomed by the construction sector as a sign of its continuing recovery, but in reality they need to be viewed in the context of an industry that experienced a record 40% drop in output at the height of the lockdown.

“Construction is still a long way from being out of the woods and the upturn is extremely fragile, reflected by the fact the figures show that new work decreased by 9.7% in the three months to July 2020, with private new housing work alone falling by 17.0%. The big concern for the industry is if there’s a second spike and a further lockdown. The government needs to do all it can to ensure the sector maintains its recovery.”