Region Focus: South West

Overview

 The South West region accounts for 7.5% of total UK GDP and key sectors of economic activity in the region are distribution and transport, public administration and business services. Construction GVA registered an increase of 8.8% in 2023 and the value of contracts awarded in the region totalled £5.9 billion in 2024, an increase of 17.9% from the previous year. In terms of overall contract awards, Somerset was the sole hotspot and Dorset CC and Swindon were coldspots.

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Location GDP per head (£) GDP growth 2018-2023 Unemployment rate (%) Construction GVA (2023, £ millions) Construction Growth (2023) Contracts Awards Growth (2024)
1 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM UK Average 39,845 4.1% 3.7 154,140 11.5% 13.1%
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM South West 35,731 4.8% 2.6 12,468 8.8% 17.9%
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Bristol, City of 47,148 9.9% 3.2 1,177 -5.2% -3.0%
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Bath and NE Somerset, N Somerset and S Gloucestershire 39,250 13.4% 2.3 1,835 8.8% 17.9%
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Gloucestershire 37,590 -0.3% 2.7 1,449 14.1% -24.1%
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Swindon 57,253 0.3% 3.9 366 1.4% -25.8%
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Wiltshire 33,332 4.3% 2.2 919 11.1% 26.0%
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 37,048 2.7% 2.5 911 6.9% -16.5%
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Dorset CC 29,573 1.1% 3.6 800 13.6% -72.3%
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Somerset 30,486 3.0% 2.5 1,094 16.1% 284.1%
11 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 28,620 3.2% 2.3 1,224 3.6% 24.1%
12 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Plymouth 30,446 1.5% 2.8 459 13.1% 108.0%
13 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Torbay 21,478 2.2% 1.1 126 14.5% -4.0%
14 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:26 AM Devon CC 31,674 6.3% 2.3 2,109 12.1% 44.0%

Residential

Commercial

Infrastructure

£2.1 billion worth of residential contracts were awarded in the South West region in 2024, a third higher than in 2023. There were two hotspots: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and Gloucestershire. Dorset CC was a coldspot. Four of the top ten largest contracts were for student accommodation.

Commercial contract awards totalled £319 million in 2024, 46.7% higher than in 2023. There were two hotspots: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire, and Plymouth, whilst Torbay was a coldspot.

Contract awards for infrastructure projects in the South West totalled £1.2 billion in 2024, 13.5% lower than the previous year. In 2024, Swindon was a hotspot, driven by the Corner Copse solar farm. Bournemouth and Poole, and Dorset CC were coldspots.

Top 10 Residential Contracts

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Project Units Value Start Finish
1 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Western Riverside Quarter, Bath 611 units £200 million 01/12/2024 01/07/2028
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Clydesdale & Birks - Student Accomm - £185 million 01/05/2024 01/10/2026
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Trengrouse Care Home - £86 million 01/04/2025 01/04/2040
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Brabazon - Student Accomm - £80 million 01/04/2024 01/12/2026
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Bath Press Site, Lower Bristol Road 277 units £55 million 01/09/2024 01/07/2026
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Brimscombe Port Redevelopment - £40 million 01/03/2023 01/06/2027
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Hinton Road - Student Accomm 170 units £36 million 01/01/2025 01/09/2027
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM SAP4 The Den - Student Accomm 329 units £36 million 01/08/2024 01/02/2026
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Clarence Road, Bristol 432 units £35 million 01/04/2025 01/08/2028
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:29 AM Priest Street, Williton 350 units £35 million 01/02/2025 01/10/2027

Top 10 Commercial Contracts

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Project Development Value Start Finish
1 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM 1 Georges Square, Bristol Offices £100 million 01/12/2023 01/03/2025
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Longwell Green - Regeneration Retail £31 million 01/08/2024 01/06/2027
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Numatic International Limited Offices £17 million 01/01/2024 01/01/2026
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Bailys Buildings Development Offices £12 million 01/05/2024 01/01/2026
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM UK Hydrographic Office Offices £10 million 01/10/2024 01/04/2026
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Devonport Royal Dockyard Offices £10 million 01/07/2024 01/04/2025
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Fairpark Road, Liskeard Offices £9 million 01/07/2024 01/05/2025
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Sainsburys - Yatton, Arnolds Way Retail £8 million 01/10/2024
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM 8 Cotswold Business Village - Refurb Retail £8 million 01/11/2024 01/01/2025
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:30 AM Valley Road, Gloucestershire Offices £7 million 01/05/2025 01/02/2026

Top 10 Infrastructure Contracts

wdt_ID wdt_created_by wdt_created_at wdt_last_edited_by wdt_last_edited_at Project Value Start Finish
1 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Somerset Tidal Barrier £249 million 01/11/2024 01/11/2028
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Bristol Sewage Treatment Plant - Recycling Centre £100 million 01/01/2024 01/01/2029
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Banwell Bypass & Highway Improvements £89 million 01/09/2024 01/05/2026
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Corner Copse - 49.9MW Solar Farm £50 million 01/09/2024 01/03/2026
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Manhay Geothermal Power Plant £50 million 01/02/2025 01/07/2026
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Rag Lane - 49.99MW Solar Farm £50 million 01/04/2024
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Whaddon Lane - 25 MW Solar Photovoltaic Arrays £30 million 01/09/2024 01/09/2026
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Berkeley Nuclear Power Station Remediation Works £30 million 01/01/2021 01/01/2031
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Horsey Level - 24MW Solar Farm £24 million 01/07/2023 01/01/2024
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM ellierourke 12/09/2025 10:32 AM Ham Farm - 22MW Solar Farm & Battery Storage £22 million 01/01/2025 01/05/2025

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