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Construction Insights

Construction Recruitment Strategy: Why Employer Branding is Your Competitive Edge in 2026

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 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

Care homes construction set to grow – but some constraints remain

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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

Lower Thames Tunnel Crossing Project Updates 2026

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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

Top 10 Contractors Working on Data Centre Construction Projects UK

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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

Onwards and Upwards: High-Rise Skylines Expand Beyond London

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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

Solar Projects Dominate East Midlands in 2026

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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