Featured Region: East Midlands

Construction activity in the East Midlands has been strong over the last two years,  after a dip in starts in 2011. 2012 saw a 13% rise in the value of new project starts, and the region continued to outperform the UK average in 2013 with a 9% rise in starts.

Despite the improvements in starts, output as recorded by the ONS remained weak during the first half of 2013, with output in the first quarter 12% lower than a year previous, and the second quarter was down 5% on the same quarter of 2012. However output volumes now appear to be on the increase, with output in the third quarter rising by 9% compared to the previous quarter, leaving output up 2% compared to a year before. Output from both new work and RM&I rose during the quarter three, with private housing and infrastructure RM&I seeing the fastest growth.

The outlook for further growth in the region is strong, with new starts in the final quarter of 2013 up 31% on a year ago, and the value of detailed planning approval up 23% compared to the fourth quarter of 2012.

The East Midlands consists of the following Counties: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,  Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire.