A surge in demand has taken the value of contracts awarded for new office builds to peaks not seen since before the recession.
Research has revealed that around £2 billion worth of contracts for office construction were agreed in the first three months of 2016.
This is roughly similar to the levels seen in the years before the financial crash of 2007 and 2008.
The research has been carried out by construction industry analysts Barbour ABI.
It shows that new office construction is taking place throughout the country, with the vast majority of projects under way in London.
In recent years, it is thought there has been a shift away from the capital to cheaper locations in the UK’s other major cities.
Separate research from property advisers JLL indicates renewed demand for office building in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds.
Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow are also enjoying a boom in pre-lets for offices.
A further factor driving the commercial construction surge is thought to be the shortage of high-quality buildings in popular locations.
This shortfall follows the decline in bank lending seen in the years after the financial crash.
But now the research from Barbour ABI suggests that construction firms are seeing an increase in activity.
Michael Dall, Barbour ABI’s chief economist, said the positive picture is likely to continue throughout the rest of the year.
Major office projects currently under construction include the £90 million Waterloo Street building in Glasgow.
In addition, Forbury Place in Reading is said to be worth in the region of £50m.
Manchester could soon become a focus for the construction of new offices.
Barbour ABI forecasts suggest that an additional three million square feet of office space will be needed in the next decade to keep pace with growth expectations.
The analysis comes as research from the CITB shows that growth in the construction sector is set to spur on the creation of new jobs.
According to the Construction Skills Network Report, more than 230,000 jobs are set to be created by 2020.
To find out more information about jobs in the construction industry, visit GoConstruct.
