Featured Region: North West

Construction activity in the North West has been gathering momentum, with growth in output, new project starts and detailed planning approvals. The value of detailed planning approvals granted leapt 31% in 2013. There was also an increase in on-site activity with the value of underlying project starts and output in the region both rising 10%. Output was lifted by growth in both new build and repair and maintenance work according to ONS.

Manchester is increasingly being seen as the UK’s second city in terms of investment into commercial space, and its reputation is being bolstered by high profile schemes such as Manchester Airport City. James Lang LaSalle report that, in line with the other Big 6 cities, the vacancy rate for grade A office space has fallen below 2%. This has prompted an increase in detailed planning approvals for new office space.

Liverpool has weathered the recession relatively well, with a strong private sector replacing jobs lost in the public sector. Construction activity stabilised in 2012 before turning around during 2013. The current year has seen the upturn in project starts gather momentum with further growth forecast for next year and into 2016.

The North West consists of the following Counties: Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Isle of Man.