Construction output in the private housing sector climbed 1.4% in the first quarter of this year, with £8.2bn of work carried out. This was despite overall construction output declining over the same period. 

From January to March 2024, overall construction output decreased by 0.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics’ figures published on 10 May. Total monthly construction output volume is estimated to have fallen by 0.4% in March.

However, new work in private housing alone was up 3.5% in March, equating to almost £2.8bn in work. In contrast, construction output in the private commercial sector was up just 0.1% in March on the previous month, and down 5.3% on the previous quarter with just under £5.6bn of work between Jan-March 2024.

This was broadly reflected in repair and maintenance data over the quarter. The value of this work in private housing was up 4.9% in Q1, with £2.8bn of work carried out in March alone. But for non-housing sectors, there was a 3.3% reduction in such activity.

In its analysis, the ONS anecdotally attributed the fall in quarter-on-quarter construction output growth to negative effects of “adverse weather” in February and March, with heavy rainfall delaying work.