{
  "query": "UK construction market trends May 2026 infrastructure steel sector news",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction industry is projected to grow between 2.8% and 4.5% in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The U.K. construction industry is entering a period of cautious optimism with projected growth of 2.8% to 4.5% in 2026",
      "source_url": "https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Infrastructure output is expected to be a primary growth driver in 2026, with a projected increase of 3.9% to 4.4%.",
      "verbatim_quote": "identifies infrastructure as the primary growth driver, with output expected to increase by 3.9% to 4.4%.",
      "source_url": "https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Biodiversity Net Gain requirements will be extended to major infrastructure projects starting in May 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "extension of Biodiversity Net Gain requirements to major infrastructure in May",
      "source_url": "https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The steel sector is seeing a shift toward recycled steel and lower upfront embodied carbon Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel in commercial schemes.",
      "verbatim_quote": "recycled steel, and emerging low-carbon concrete mixes are becoming more visible across projects... The specification of lower upfront embodied carbon EAF steel continues to be a strategy on commercial schemes.",
      "source_url": "https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The Construction Products Association (CPA) specifically forecasts a 4.4% rise in infrastructure output for 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The Construction Products Association (CPA) forecasts that infrastructure output will rise by 4.4% in 2026.",
      "source_url": "https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/journals/construction-journal/budget-preview.html",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The UK infrastructure pipeline is valued at £530 billion over the next decade, covering transport, energy, utilities, and defence.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The sector benefits from a £530 billion pipeline of public and private projects over the next decade, spanning transport, energy, utilities and defence.",
      "source_url": "https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery",
      "relevance": "medium"
    },
    {
      "claim": "A new Building Safety Levy is scheduled to be introduced in autumn 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Regulatory complexity is increasing with the Building Safety Levy arriving in autumn 2026",
      "source_url": "https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] The UK construction industry is projected to grow between 2.8% and 4.5% in 2026. (source: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery)\n- [HIGH] Infrastructure output is expected to be a primary growth driver in 2026, with a projected increase of 3.9% to 4.4%. (source: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery)\n- [HIGH] Biodiversity Net Gain requirements will be extended to major infrastructure projects starting in May 2026. (source: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery)\n- [HIGH] The steel sector is seeing a shift toward recycled steel and lower upfront embodied carbon Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel in commercial schemes. (source: https://asd.ltd/construction-trends-2026/)\n- [HIGH] The Construction Products Association (CPA) specifically forecasts a 4.4% rise in infrastructure output for 2026. (source: https://ww3.rics.org/uk/en/journals/construction-journal/budget-preview.html)\n- [MEDIUM] The UK infrastructure pipeline is valued at £530 billion over the next decade, covering transport, energy, utilities, and defence. (source: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery)\n- [MEDIUM] A new Building Safety Levy is scheduled to be introduced in autumn 2026. (source: https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/uk-construction-industry-poised-for-3-45-growth-in-2026-but-critical-workforce-shortage-threatens-recovery)"
}