Featured Region The South West

 

Starts in the South West during the three months to November were up 11%; the fifth consecutive month of year on year increases in the region. The region has recovered well from the economic downturn; during 2012 the South West was the only part of the UK outside London to record a higher level of project starts than during 2007.

 

This improvement has not yet been reflected in overall output figures; the ONS estimate that output in the 12 months to June 2013 was 12% below the level during the same period of 2007-08.

 

Starts of industrial and office projects have risen strongly during 2012 and 2013. Overall growth for 2013 is expected to be 3%, just above the UK average, as rises in office, industrial and utilities projects offset a fall in new private housing site starts.

 

Looking ahead, the outlook for the region is less positive. Detailed planning approvals have failed to keep pace with much of the UK, and starts are expected to be flat during 2014. The South Wests consists of the following Counties: Channel Islands, Isles of Scilly, Avon, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Wiltshire.