Detailed planning approvals declined compared to both the previous quarter and the previous year. More positively, project starts increased quarter-on-quarter and year-on-year, boosting the development pipeline.
Community & amenity overview
Community & amenity work starting on site totalled £805m during the three months to November, 50 per cent up on the preceding three months and on the previous year. Major project-starts (£100m or more) totalled £502m, 272 per cent up on the previous quarter and a 179 per cent increase on a year ago. Underlying starts (valued at less than £100m) declined by 14 per cent on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis compared with the preceding three months and were 15 per cent lower than last year, totalling £304m.
At £860m, community & amenity main contract awards increased 100 per cent during the period to stand 9 per cent down on the previous year. Major projects totalled £500m during the period, up 393 per cent compared with the preceding three months and up 4 per cent compared with the previous year. Underlying contract awards increased 14 per cent compared with the preceding three months (SA) to stand 23 per cent down compared with the previous year.
Detailed planning approvals fell 38 per cent compared with the previous three months to stand 47 per cent down compared with last year, totalling £267m. There were no major approvals, a decrease on the preceding quarter and a year ago. Underlying project approvals increased 51 per cent (SA) compared with the previous three months and fell 17 per cent compared with a year ago.
Types of projects started
Totalling £541m, prisons accounted for the highest proportion (67 per cent) of community & amenity starts, due to the value having jumped almost ten times on a year ago. At £34m, blue light projects doubled compared with 2023 levels to account for 4 per cent of the sector. In contrast, adding up to £109m, local facility project starts declined 19 per cent compared with last year, accounting for 14 per cent of sector starts.
Government buildings, totalling £90m, decreased 60 per cent compared with last year, accounting for 11 per cent of the sector. Military projects totalled £21m and accounted for a 3 per cent share, having decreased 73 per cent on a year ago. Places of worship projects starting during the three months to November totalled £9m, 48 per cent down compared with the same period last year, accounting for 1 per cent. Accounting for an insignificant share, law courts slipped back 88 per cent to total £2m.
Regional
Scotland led community and amenity project starts, contributing 53 per cent of new work valued at £430m—a more than twentyfold increase compared with the previous year. This significant growth was largely driven by the £400m HMP Glasgow prison development. The South East followed, accounting for 16 per cent of sector starts, with a 334 per cent year-on-year increase, totalling £130m.
Starts in the East of England were 65 per cent higher than last year, totalling £53m and accounting for 7 per cent of the sector. Accounting for 6 per cent at £49m, the North West grew 143 per cent compared with the preceding year. The South West accounted for the same share, having grown six times on a year ago to total £47m. In contrast, accounting for a 4 per cent share, starts in London fell 86 per cent on a year ago to total £31m.
At £102m, the South East was the most active region for community & amenity detailed planning approvals. Accounting for a 38 per cent share, the value of consents there fell 55 per cent compared with the previous year. Scotland also experienced a weak period, having decreased 59 per cent on the preceding year’s level. The region accounted for 9 per cent, with a total value of £25m.
Yorkshire & the Humber was another region to experience a decline. The value of consents there was 7 per cent lower compared with last year’s levels to total £18m, accounting for a 7 per cent share of sector consents. In contrast, accounting for an 18 per cent share, approvals in the South West grew 53 per cent compared with the previous year to total £49m. Northern Ireland also experienced a strong period, having grown 38 per cent compared with 2023 figures to total £13m, a 5 per cent share of consents.
