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
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 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
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
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
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
The Bank of England has reduced the Base Rate to 3.75%. Dipping below the 4% mark for the first time in nearly 2 years (since January 2023). Interest rate reductions have been widely called for across the housing sector, as it is perceived to positively influence demand for both New Build and RMI. But after … Read more
As the UK grapples with a significant housing crisis and escalating demand for affordable homes, could the construction industry be poised for transformation through innovation? Among several emerging trends, industrialised construction may provide part of the solution, capable of enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and addressing the urgent need for new social housing. The need for … Read more
For more than two years, the UK construction sector has been waiting for a recovery that always seems just one more forecast away. Each quarter brings another set of predictions projecting imminent growth, only for the next report to quietly revise them down. The much-anticipated rebound is always coming “later this year,” or “from Q3 … Read more
Our latest research into the UK Plumbing and Hard FM Contractors Market shows a sector worth over £27 billion in 2024, forecast to grow to £32.5 billion by 2029. The scale and complexity of retrofitting both residential and non-residential buildings mean that plumbing contractors and facilities management providers are now on the front line of … Read more
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