Solar Projects Dominate East Midlands in 2026

Three major Solar Farm projects are dominating the East Midlands construction project landscape, according to our latest 2026 league tables. Sitting in a shared first place at the top of our League Tables are the Cottam 600MW Solar Farm Project, Heckington Fen 500MW Solar Farm and Battery Storage Project, and the Tillbridge 500MW Solar Farm. … Read more

UK Residential Worktops Market moving towards a More Sustainable Growth Trajectory

The UK residential kitchen and bathroom worktops market continues to face economic pressures in 2026, but it is expected to shift towards a more sustainable growth path in the medium term. As economic conditions stabilise, household confidence in undertaking “big-ticket” home improvement projects, such as kitchen upgrades, is anticipated to rise. While recent economic uncertainty … Read more

Paying more, building more: inside United Utilities’ infrastructure plan

Investing in water infrastructure Over seven million United Utilities customers in the North West will see their water bills rise annually by an average of £86. This is the first step in a five-year plan agreed with regulator Ofwat, which will increase bills by around 32% to raise £12.7bn for water infrastructure investment. For households … Read more

Full Capacity Underway – Prison Projects on site in 2026

What the UK Infrastructure Strategy has in store for prison construction projects Since the government’s UK Infrastructure Strategy was announced, about £6.3 billion has been earmarked to support prison expansion construction as part of delivering up to 14,000 additional prison places by 2031 under the 10-year Prison Capacity Strategy. According to Barbour ABI planning data, … Read more

The UK Residential Window Coverings Market: Resilient, Replacement-Led and Competitive

The UK residential window coverings market may lack the excitement of faster-moving home technology sectors, but it remains a sizeable and resilient part of the domestic furnishings landscape. Focused on traditional, non-automated internal products – including curtains, blinds, shutters and suspension systems – the market is shaped less by innovation cycles and more by consumer … Read more

UK contract catering equipment market value reaches nearly £990 million

The UK commercial catering equipment market, valued at approximately £988 million in 2025, representing moderate growth of 2% on the previous year. The sector has faced challenging market conditions in recent years, primarily influenced by subdued economic growth, reduced consumer spending, and intensified competitive pressures that have affected profitability. Despite ongoing market challenges, market prospects … Read more

Top 10 Hire Services Construction Leads in 2026 Pipeline

We’ve listed 10 upcoming project opportunities for Hire Services in UK construction. All projects are sourced directly from our Construction Project Leads Platform and are currently at detail approval stage. Having the right visibility makes all the difference when competing for work. Knowing who’s bidding, when work will start, and when the tender deadline can … Read more

Why the 2026 Education Construction Rebuild Surge Requires a Digital-First Supply Chain

As BETT 2026 concludes London, it is a rare but perfect moment to reflect on my two greatest passions: construction project data and education technology. As the Marketing Director at Barbour ABI, I spend a lot of my time looking at data, pipelines, and the shifting tides of the construction industry and built environment. I … Read more

Offsite housing in the UK: opportunity, constraint and hybrid delivery

As the UK continues to face sustained pressure on housing supply, attention remains firmly on how homes are designed, manufactured and delivered. Offsite construction has been part of that conversation for more than a decade, but its role within UK housing is evolving. Rather than representing a single solution, offsite housing now reflects a spectrum … Read more

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