The value of contracts awarded for new office builds have soared to their highest levels since after the recession due to a surge in demand.

In the first three months of this year, a study has shown that approximately £2 billion worth of office construction contracts were agreed.

This figure is on a par with the levels seen in the three years prior to the recession of 2008, according to research carried out by Barbour ABI, a construction industry analysis firm.

The study indicates that the construction of new office buildings is under way throughout the UK, with most of the projects taking place in London, contrary to the belief that there has been a shift toward cheaper UK locations away from the capital.

Meanwhile, property advisers JLL have conducted their own separate research and found that there has been a renewed demand for office construction in Leeds, Birmingham and Manchester, while Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol have also enjoyed a surge in office pre-lets.

Another factor that has driven the surge in commercial construction is the shortfall of high quality buildings in popular locations, which has followed the reduction in bank lending seen in the years that followed the financial crash.

However, Barbour ABI’s latest research suggests that construction companies are now seeing increases in activity, with the firm’s chief economist Michael Dall insisting that the picture is a positive one that will carry on for the rest of 2016 at least.

Among the major office projects currently being constructed are the £90 million Waterloo Street building in Glasgow, while Forbury Place in Reading is estimated to be worth around £50 million.

Barbour ABI has also forecast that Manchester will soon become one of the primary focus areas for new office construction, with the company suggesting that a further three million sq ft of office space will be required over the next decade to keep up with expected growth.