{
  "query": "UK construction cost trends steel industry 2026 forecast NEC contracts",
  "raw_results": [
    {
      "url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "title": "Construction Industry Trends 2026 - ASD Limited",
      "content": "ASD\n\nThe UK's Leading Metal and Steel Supplier\n\n# Construction Industry Trends 2026\n\nConstruction trends 2026\n\nThe UK construction sector is preparing for a better year ahead. After a challenging 2025, industry analysts are expecting growth to return in 2026 and 2027. Private housebuilding is showing signs of recovery, and commercial office developments continue to gain momentum. That said, rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget – higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, will undoubtedly add pressure to already tight margins. [...] Furthermore, adaptive re-use of existing building stock, via structural alterations to the existing frame, along with vertical and horizontal extensions, is a prominent feature of the commercial office sector, and this will continue to grow in 2026.\n\n### The Circular Economy Gains Influence\n\nCircular economy principles are becoming more prominent across UK construction as the industry moves closer to its net-zero commitments. The focus is shifting away from linear, single-use material consumption towards approaches that maximise the lifespan of resources, support reuse and recycling, and minimise waste. This shift not only aligns with sustainability goals but also helps clients manage costs and improve asset value over a building’s full lifecycle. [...] Lightweight cellular beams, engineered timber, recycled steel, and emerging low-carbon concrete mixes are becoming more visible across projects, reflecting a broader shift toward circular and resource-efficient construction. The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes.\n\nThe drive to deliver greener outcomes is also accelerating the use of modular and prefabricated components, which help reduce waste and improve build efficiency. At the same time, retrofitting is gaining more prominence. Upgrading insulation, heating systems, and glazing in older buildings often delivers significant carbon savings while avoiding the environmental costs associated with new construction.",
      "score": 0.78014404,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/",
      "title": "Construction Industry Forecast | BCIS",
      "content": "### BCIS construction industry forecast – 1Q2026 to 1Q2031\n\nBuilding costs are forecast to increase by 14% over the next five years, while tender prices are expected to rise by 15% over the same period, according to BCIS’s latest construction forecast data.\n\nTotal new work output is forecast to grow by 12% between 2026 and 2031.\n\nDr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at BCIS, said: ‘Conditions in the UK construction sector at the start of 2026 were mixed, with some signs of improving sentiment before geopolitical developments unsettled energy markets and clouded the outlook. [...] # BCIS building forecast\n\nPublished: 26/03/2026\n\nBCIS produces five-year construction industry forecasts, covering projected costs, tender prices and output, and examining the latest construction market trends.\n\nThe quarterly BCIS building briefing reflects our view of housing, infrastructure, public non-housing, private industrial and private commercial new work output against the backdrop of materials and labour costs, and the wider economic background and market conditions.\n\nThis forecast is based on information available up to 10 March 2026. The full briefings are available to subscribers of BCIS CapX, the leading service for construction costing activities.\n\n### BCIS construction industry forecast – 1Q2026 to 1Q2031",
      "score": 0.7120925,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.imarcgroup.com/uk-steel-market",
      "title": "UK Steel Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Report 2026-2034",
      "content": "Loading wait...\n\n### Press Releases\n\n### Insights\n\n Home\n |\n Chemical & Materials\n |\n UK Steel Market\n\nUK Steel Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Product, Application, and Region, 2026-2034\n\n# UK Steel Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Product, Application, and Region, 2026-2034\n\nReport Format:  PDF+Excel | Report ID:  SR112026A38097\n\nBuy Now Discount  \nOffer\n\n Report Description\n Table of Contents\n Methodology\n Request Sample\n\n## UK Steel Market Summary:\n\n> The UK steel market size was valued at USD 33,170.20 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 43,625.70 Million by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.09% from 2026-2034. [...] ## Frequently Asked Questions About the UK Steel Market Report\n\n### \n\nThe UK steel market size was valued at USD 33,170.20 Million in 2025.\n\n### \n\nThe UK steel market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.09% from 2026-2034 to reach USD 43,625.70 Million by 2034.\n\n### \n\nFlat steel dominated the market with a 45.12% share, driven by extensive applications across automotive manufacturing, construction cladding, household appliances, and packaging industries.\n\n### \n\nKey factors driving the UK steel market include major infrastructure investment programmes, construction sector recovery and housing initiatives, renewable energy sector expansion, government support for domestic production, and the transition toward sustainable green steel technologies.\n\n### [...] The United Kingdom's steel industry is experiencing transformative change as producers transition from traditional blast furnace operations to electric arc furnace technology to reduce carbon emissions. In 2025, Tata Steel UK began construction of a £1.25 billion EAF facility at its Port Talbot steelworks, backed by £500 million of UK government support to cut emissions. This underlines how government investment supports this decarbonization agenda through dedicated funding mechanisms and industry-specific support packages. The construction sector remains the primary steel consumer, benefiting from major infrastructure projects including high-speed rail development. Public procurement policies increasingly favour domestically produced steel, with government departments sourcing",
      "score": 0.69498676,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/engineering-and-construction/engineering-and-construction-industry-outlook.html",
      "title": "2026 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook",
      "content": "Recent tariffs, especially on steel and aluminum, reaching up to 50%5—have sharply raised construction material costs.6 The effective tariff rate for construction goods climbed to a 40-year high of 25% to 30% in 2025.7 The financial impact is evident: Material prices have risen steadily from May through August 2025.8 [...] Strategic stockpiling to buffer against price swings\n   Material substitution (for example, using cost-effective alternatives in place of traditional materials)\n   Vertical integration and domestic sourcing to reduce exposure to tariff risk\n   Supplier diversification and collaborative scenario planning to enhance resilience\n   Outsourcing of procurement functions, often via engineering, procurement, and construction contracts or hybrid models, to leverage specialized expertise and improve cost predictability12\n   Adopting advanced digital platforms that integrate tariff data, freight information, and material forecasts for predictive purchasing [...] Evolving tariffs: Building resilience against supply chain disruptions and rising material costs\n   Shifting priorities: Growing focus on data centers and energy infrastructure to drive E&C’s next wave\n   Embracing digital transformation: Innovating to optimize capacity, cost, and competitiveness\n   Persistent talent shortage: Leveraging digital and workforce innovation to unlock opportunities\n\nImage 29\n\n\n       linkedin\n       twitter\n       facebook\n\n### Or copy link\n\nCopy\n\nImage 30\n\n## 1. Evolving tariffs: Building resilience against supply chain disruptions and rising material costs",
      "score": 0.64639384,
      "raw_content": null
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026",
      "title": "UK Construction Market Outlook Spring 2026 - Arcadis",
      "content": "## What the latest UK construction forecast means for 2026\n\nThe UK construction sector may be approaching the bottom of the current cycle, but a sustained recovery remains uncertain. While the pipeline of future work is growing, affordability pressures, regulatory hurdles, and delayed investment decisions continue to slow project delivery.\n\nFor clients and contractors, this creates a narrow window where labour availability and competitive tender conditions may work in their favour—before cost pressures and market demand begin to rise again.\n\nThe Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market Viewexplores what these trends mean for construction growth, costs, and sector performance in the year ahead.\n\n### Get the full UK Market View – Spring 2026 UK Construction Market View Review our report now! [...] The Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market View examines the forces shaping the UK construction market, from shifts in sector performance and regional activity to emerging cost pressures and long-term infrastructure investment.\n\n## UK construction industry trends, growth, and inflation insights\n\nThe Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market View provides a data-driven perspective on the forces shaping the UK construction sector. The report combines market research and analysis, sector insights, and forward-looking forecasts to help industry leaders navigate an uncertain recovery.\n\nConstruction growth and sector performance analysis—how residential, commercial, infrastructure, and public sectors are diverging in a two-speed recovery. [...] ## The state of the construction market in the UK\n\nThe UK construction sector has entered 2026 facing an uneven recovery. After a promising start to 2025, activity slowed significantly in the second half of the year, with new build output declining even as the pipeline of future work continued to grow.\n\nAffordability pressures, regulatory complexity, and delayed investment decisions are slowing the conversion of projects from planning to delivery, particularly in the residential sector. At the same time, other parts of the market—including commercial development and infrastructure investment—are showing early signs of renewed momentum.",
      "score": 0.6420965,
      "raw_content": null
    }
  ],
  "formatted": "Source: Construction Industry Trends 2026 - ASD Limited\nURL: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/\nASD The UK's Leading Metal and Steel Supplier # Construction Industry Trends 2026 Construction trends 2026 The UK construction sector is preparing for a better year ahead. After a challenging 2025, industry analysts are expecting growth to return in 2026 and 2027. Private housebuilding is showing signs of recovery, and commercial office developments continue to gain momentum. That said, rising employment costs from the Autumn Budget – higher minimum wage and National Insurance contributions, will undoubtedly add pressure to already tight margins. [...] Furthermore, adaptive re-use of existing building stock, via structural alterations to the existing frame, along with vertical and horizontal extensions, is a prominent feature of the commercial office sector, and this will continue to grow in 2026. ### The Circular Economy Gains Influence Circular economy principles are becoming more prominent across UK construction as the industry moves closer to its net-zero commitments. The focus is shifting away from linear, single-use material consumption towards approaches that maximise the lifespan of resources, support reuse and recycling, and minimise waste. This shift not only aligns with sustainability goals but also helps clients manage costs and improve asset value over a building’s full lifecycle. [...] Lightweight cellular beams, engineered timber, recycled steel, and emerging low-carbon concrete mixes are becoming more visible across projects, reflecting a broader shift toward circular and resource-efficient construction. The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes. The drive to deliver greener outcomes is also accelerating the use of modular and prefabricated components, which help reduce waste and improve\n\n---\n\nSource: Construction Industry Forecast | BCIS\nURL: https://www.bcis.co.uk/news/bcis-construction-industry-forecast/\n### BCIS construction industry forecast – 1Q2026 to 1Q2031 Building costs are forecast to increase by 14% over the next five years, while tender prices are expected to rise by 15% over the same period, according to BCIS’s latest construction forecast data. Total new work output is forecast to grow by 12% between 2026 and 2031. Dr David Crosthwaite, chief economist at BCIS, said: ‘Conditions in the UK construction sector at the start of 2026 were mixed, with some signs of improving sentiment before geopolitical developments unsettled energy markets and clouded the outlook. [...] # BCIS building forecast Published: 26/03/2026 BCIS produces five-year construction industry forecasts, covering projected costs, tender prices and output, and examining the latest construction market trends. The quarterly BCIS building briefing reflects our view of housing, infrastructure, public non-housing, private industrial and private commercial new work output against the backdrop of materials and labour costs, and the wider economic background and market conditions. This forecast is based on information available up to 10 March 2026. The full briefings are available to subscribers of BCIS CapX, the leading service for construction costing activities. ### BCIS construction industry forecast – 1Q2026 to 1Q2031\n\n---\n\nSource: UK Steel Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends, Report 2026-2034\nURL: https://www.imarcgroup.com/uk-steel-market\nLoading wait... ### Press Releases ### Insights Home | Chemical & Materials | UK Steel Market UK Steel Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Product, Application, and Region, 2026-2034 # UK Steel Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Product, Application, and Region, 2026-2034 Report Format: PDF+Excel | Report ID: SR112026A38097 Buy Now Discount Offer Report Description Table of Contents Methodology Request Sample ## UK Steel Market Summary: > The UK steel market size was valued at USD 33,170.20 Million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 43,625.70 Million by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.09% from 2026-2034. [...] ## Frequently Asked Questions About the UK Steel Market Report ### The UK steel market size was valued at USD 33,170.20 Million in 2025. ### The UK steel market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 3.09% from 2026-2034 to reach USD 43,625.70 Million by 2034. ### Flat steel dominated the market with a 45.12% share, driven by extensive applications across automotive manufacturing, construction cladding, household appliances, and packaging industries. ### Key factors driving the UK steel market include major infrastructure investment programmes, construction sector recovery and housing initiatives, renewable energy sector expansion, government support for domestic production, and the transition toward sustainable green steel technologies. ### [...] The United Kingdom's steel industry is experiencing transformative change as producers transition from traditional blast furnace operations to electric arc furnace technology to reduce carbon emissions. In 2025, Tata Steel UK began construction of a £1.25 billion EAF facility at its Port Talbot steelworks, backed by £500 million of UK government support t\n\n---\n\nSource: 2026 Engineering and Construction Industry Outlook\nURL: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/engineering-and-construction/engineering-and-construction-industry-outlook.html\nRecent tariffs, especially on steel and aluminum, reaching up to 50%5—have sharply raised construction material costs.6 The effective tariff rate for construction goods climbed to a 40-year high of 25% to 30% in 2025.7 The financial impact is evident: Material prices have risen steadily from May through August 2025.8 [...] Strategic stockpiling to buffer against price swings Material substitution (for example, using cost-effective alternatives in place of traditional materials) Vertical integration and domestic sourcing to reduce exposure to tariff risk Supplier diversification and collaborative scenario planning to enhance resilience Outsourcing of procurement functions, often via engineering, procurement, and construction contracts or hybrid models, to leverage specialized expertise and improve cost predictability12 Adopting advanced digital platforms that integrate tariff data, freight information, and material forecasts for predictive purchasing [...] Evolving tariffs: Building resilience against supply chain disruptions and rising material costs Shifting priorities: Growing focus on data centers and energy infrastructure to drive E&C’s next wave Embracing digital transformation: Innovating to optimize capacity, cost, and competitiveness Persistent talent shortage: Leveraging digital and workforce innovation to unlock opportunities Image 29 linkedin twitter facebook ### Or copy link Copy Image 30 ## 1. Evolving tariffs: Building resilience against supply chain disruptions and rising material costs\n\n---\n\nSource: UK Construction Market Outlook Spring 2026 - Arcadis\nURL: https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026\n## What the latest UK construction forecast means for 2026 The UK construction sector may be approaching the bottom of the current cycle, but a sustained recovery remains uncertain. While the pipeline of future work is growing, affordability pressures, regulatory hurdles, and delayed investment decisions continue to slow project delivery. For clients and contractors, this creates a narrow window where labour availability and competitive tender conditions may work in their favour—before cost pressures and market demand begin to rise again. The Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market Viewexplores what these trends mean for construction growth, costs, and sector performance in the year ahead. ### Get the full UK Market View – Spring 2026 UK Construction Market View Review our report now! [...] The Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market View examines the forces shaping the UK construction market, from shifts in sector performance and regional activity to emerging cost pressures and long-term infrastructure investment. ## UK construction industry trends, growth, and inflation insights The Spring 2026 Arcadis UK Market View provides a data-driven perspective on the forces shaping the UK construction sector. The report combines market research and analysis, sector insights, and forward-looking forecasts to help industry leaders navigate an uncertain recovery. Construction growth and sector performance analysis—how residential, commercial, infrastructure, and public sectors are diverging in a two-speed recovery. [...] ## The state of the construction market in the UK The UK construction sector has entered 2026 facing an uneven recovery. After a promising start to 2025, activity slowed significantly in the second half of the year, with new build output declining even as the pipeline of future work"
}