UK construction contract awards totalled £7.18 billion in March 2026, maintaining steady activity levels despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty linked to conflict in Iran, according to data from Barbour ABI.
The March figure represented a slight decline from February but remained consistent with performance throughout the first quarter of 2026 and above levels recorded at the end of 2025.
Sector performance
Residential construction accounted for the largest share of contract awards at £2.57 billion. Notable projects included the £148 million Penvose Student Village, £120 million Selby Urban Village and the £105 million City Link House development in Croydon.
Infrastructure contributed £1.52 billion in awards, supported by continued investment in energy, transport and public sector projects. The spread of activity across multiple sectors suggests reduced reliance on any single area of growth, even as businesses monitor international developments.
Ed Griffiths, head of business and client analytics at Barbour ABI, said: “What stands out is the breadth of activity across residential, infrastructure and industrial. That does not remove the risks created by a more uncertain global backdrop, but the current data shows projects are still moving forward.”
Planning activity
Planning applications reached £6.39 billion in February 2026, largely unchanged from the previous month and consistent with trends observed in late 2025. Residential projects dominated, with the strongest activity recorded in the South East, East of England and North West regions.
Planning approvals rose to £11.7 billion in March, maintaining elevated levels seen since the start of the year. While residential schemes continued to lead, infrastructure approvals showed a shift towards nationally significant energy projects.
The data comes as the wider property sector continues to see activity across different segments, with recent acquisitions in the lettings market and expansion in prime London property services indicating ongoing confidence in certain areas of the market.
The construction sector’s performance in the first quarter of 2026 indicates resilience across key segments, though the impact of global uncertainty on project pipelines remains an area of observation for industry analysts.
