Region Focus: Wales

Overview

Wales accounts for 3.4% of total UK GDP and key sectors of economic activity in the region are industrial production and manufacturing, distribution and transport, public administration and real estate activities. Construction GVA increased 10.7% in 2023, whilst  the value of contracts awarded in the region totalled £1.8 billion in 2024, a decrease of 16.9% from the previous year. In terms of overall contract awards, there were no hotspots, with contract values largely in line with the long-term average. However, there was one coldspot: Sout West Wales.

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 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM UK Average 39,845 4.1% 3.7 154,140 11.5% 13.1%
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Wales 29,316 -0.9% 2.9 5,180 10.7% -16.9%
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Isle of Anglesey 24,279 4.5% 4.8 100 22.0% 20.5%
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Gwynedd 27,791 -5.1% 4.1 202 7.4% 20.2%
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Conwy and Denbighshire 25,335 -1.4% 2.4 416 9.5% -39.4%
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM South West Wales 26,745 -1.1% 2.1 426 8.7% -32.9%
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Central Valleys 24,553 -2.6% 4.2 0 na -25.5%
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Gwent Valleys 22,552 -2.5% 3.1 528 22.5% -48.4%
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Bridgend and Neath Port Talbot 26,186 -4.9% 2.5 0 na 2.9%
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Swansea 29,592 -5.8% 2.7 298 13.3% 14.7%
11 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Monmouthshire and Newport 31,929 -3.5% 2.8 514 16.3% -2.1%
12 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan 37,759 3.6% 2.2 846 8.9% 20.6%
13 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Flintshire and Wrexham 38,096 7.6% 3.4 518 17.7% -41.9%
14 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:15 PM Powys 23,918 -2.3% 2.8 0 na -58.2%

Residential

Commercial

Infrastructure

£425 million worth of residential contracts were awarded in Wales in 2024, 13.6% lower than the value awarded in 2023. Isle of Anglesey was a hotspot, whilst Gwent Valleys was a coldspot. The largest contract award was valued at £40 million.

Commercial contract awards totalled £85 million in 2024, 2.1% higher than the previous year. There were no hotspots but Conwy and Denbighshire was a coldspot. Nine of the top ten largest contract awards were in retail; three of those were supermarkets.

Contract awards for infrastructure projects in Wales totalled £353 million in 2024, which was 36.9% lower than in 2023. There were no hotspots or coldspots, with contract values largely in line with long-term averages. The top ten contract awards were spread across ports, solar farms, and flood and coastal defences.

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 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Cardiff Sixth Form College - Accomm - £40 million 01/01/2024 01/07/2026
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Holywell Road, Ewloe Green 315 units £31 million 01/01/2025 01/09/2027
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Menai Bridge - Extra Care Facility - £28 million 01/01/2025 01/01/2027
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Beili Glas Farm 98 units £27 million 01/04/2024 01/04/2026
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Knox Court, South Glamorgan 215 units £20 million 01/10/2024 01/04/2026
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Sunnyside Wellness Village, Glan Y Parc 59 units £15 million 01/03/2024 01/01/2026
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Highmere Drive, Connahs Quay 141 units £14 million 01/02/2024 01/08/2026
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Pont Rhyd Y Cyff, Llangynwyd 133 units £13 million 01/02/2025 01/08/2027
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM St Asaph Business Park - Care Home - £10 million 01/09/2024
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:21 PM Vinegar Hill, Undy 70 units £8 million 01/11/2024 01/06/2026

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 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Next Generation Data Project Delta Data centre £22 million 01/01/2024 01/08/2026
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Swansea East Trade Park - Clase Road Retail £8 million 01/11/2024 01/11/2025
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Castle Square Regeneration Retail £8 million 01/11/2024 01/11/2025
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Cardiff Market Renovation & Restoration Retail £4 million 01/10/2024 01/04/2025
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Home Bargains, Newport W Retail Park Retail £4 million 01/06/2024 01/03/2025
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Travis Perkins - Swansea Enterprise Park Retail £4 million 01/10/2024 01/07/2025
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Greenmeadow Community Farm - Cafe Retail £3 million 01/11/2024 01/05/2025
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Aldi - Aberaman Park Industrial Estate Retail £3 million 01/03/2024 01/08/2024
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Aldi - Co Op Nelson Retail £3 million 01/04/2025
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:25 PM Aldi - Caernarfon Road Retail £3 million 01/09/2024 01/05/2025

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 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Holyhead Port - Border Control Facility £41 million 01/07/2024 01/01/2025
2 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Brynrhyd Farm - 30MW Solar Farm £30 million 01/03/2025 01/09/2029
3 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Swansea Greener Grid Park Facility £20 million 01/10/2024 01/04/2026
4 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Haverfordwest Public Transport Interchange Scheme £15 million 01/08/2024 01/05/2025
5 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM North Promenade - Flood Alleviation Scheme £13 million 01/12/2024 01/12/2025
6 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Kinmel Bay Coastal Defence Improvement Works £10 million 01/08/2024 01/06/2025
7 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Uskmouth Power Station - 230MW Battery Storage £10 million 01/11/2023 01/11/2025
8 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Canton Depot - Bogie Drop Building £9 million 01/08/2024 01/07/2026
9 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Bryngolwg Farm, Hirwaun - 8.94MW Solar Farm £5 million 01/04/2023 01/10/2023
10 ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM ellierourke 12/09/2025 12:33 PM Lon Pin, Llanbedrog - 4.99MW Solar Farm £5 million 01/09/2024 01/06/2025

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