Commercial washrooms are no longer simply part of a building’s interior fit-out. Increasingly, they are becoming compliance-driven assets shaped as much by regulation, safety and sustainability targets as by design preference. Regulatory Changes Driving Specification Decisions The introduction of Part T has formalised requirements around single-sex provision in new non-domestic buildings in England, influencing layout, … Read more
According to our latest Construction Industry Monthly Snapshot Report, the residential sector led contract award activity with £2.1bn in February 2026. This marks a 36% increase from January’s performance. The sector Q1 contract award average now sits just above the same period last year.* The success of the residential sector contract awards is owed largely … Read more
The days of recruiting by default in the construction industry are buried under a decade of demographic shifts and a widening skills gap. In 2026, recruitment in construction isn’t just fighting for the same small pool of electricians and site managers; they’re competing against the tech sector, the green energy boom, and a persistent perception that construction is a back-breaking dead end. If you think a competitive hourly rate and … Read more
Demand for care homes in the UK is strong and rising, driven by an ageing population, longer life expectancy and more complex health needs. As of 2025, there are 17,088 care homes providing just under 550,000 bed spaces. Construction contract awards increased from about £416m in 2021 to £1,034m in 2025, and 2024/25 saw a … Read more
We are reporting the latest Lower Thames Tunnel Crossing project updates as the mega-project progresses towards tunnel-machine procurement to prepare for the start of construction. After a 16-year planning process wait, the project is going ahead to connect Kent and Essex by tunnel underneath the River Thames. Client, National Highways, has announced the major transport … Read more
As data centre construction continues to surge, Barbour ABI is monitoring the top construction companies working on these projects across the UK. At the time of this blog’s publication, we can confirm there are 22 data centre projects with contractors appointed that are due to finish in the next two years. View the contractors working … Read more
The number of high-rise buildings being built each year in the UK is gradually increasing and set to accelerate. With urban populations growing, and limited space to build, high rise is an important part of the solution to meet the demand for new homes. As well as homes, other significant uses for high-rise buildings, are … Read more
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
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
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
Your data is protected by our privacy policy
Get a free 20 minute sales consultation with our expert team to:
Book your free 20-min consultation today:
Place of registration: Barbour ABI Limited Company number: 13427982, Registered office: 5th Floor, 133 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BX
