Roads output to grow despite looming funding crisis

The Construction Products Association is forecasting steady growth in output across the sector, with output set to grow by 5 per cent in 2016, followed by an increase of 8 per cent the following year.

By 2019, output in the sector will reach £6.8bn – more than three times higher than the recessionary trough of £2.23bn reported in 2012.

Growth in the sector will primarily be supported by the £15.2bn Roads Investment Strategy, alongside Highways England’s Smart Motorways framework and an additional £161m of funding brought forward by 2016’s Budget.

However, warnings have emerged that a dip in fuel duty could lead to a fall in work on both the strategic and local networks over the next decade, while civil engineering contractors have already noticed a decline in workloads across the sector.