{
  "query": "UK construction market cost trends 2024-2026 for major industrial projects",
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction market experienced 1.6% growth in 2024, bringing activity levels close to pre-COVID-19 figures.",
      "verbatim_quote": "Despite positive momentum with 1.6% growth in 2024 that brought activity close to pre-COVID-19 levels for the first time in four years, elevated material and labour costs continue to add pressure to the sector.",
      "source_url": "https://www.jll.com/en-uk/guides/navigating-construction-cost-uncertainty",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Construction cost inflation in the UK was recorded at an average of 3.0% in 2024.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The UK recorded an average increase of 3.0 percent, while Europe experienced average inflation of 2.9 percent.",
      "source_url": "https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "UK construction cost inflation is projected to remain steady at 3.5% heading into 2025.",
      "verbatim_quote": "In the UK and North America, construction cost inflation is anticipated to remain steady at 3.5 percent and 3.8 percent, respectively.",
      "source_url": "https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "The UK construction industry is forecast to grow by 2.2% in real terms in 2026.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The construction industry in the UK is expected to grow in real terms by 2.2% in 2026, supported by investments in housing and commercial projects.",
      "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Industrial and infrastructure sectors, including energy and transport, are expected to support an average annual growth of 3.3% from 2027 to 2030.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The construction industry, over the remainder of the forecast period, is expected to record an average annual growth of 3.3% from 2027 to 2030, supported by investments in transport, housing, and energy projects",
      "source_url": "https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/",
      "relevance": "medium"
    },
    {
      "claim": "Tendering conditions in the UK are expected to remain stable as the market enters 2025.",
      "verbatim_quote": "The outlook across Europe and the United Kingdom remains stable, with most markets expecting tendering conditions to hold steady.",
      "source_url": "https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends",
      "relevance": "high"
    },
    {
      "claim": "By 2026, the UK construction sector faces an uneven recovery with a growing pipeline but slow project conversion due to affordability and regulatory pressures.",
      "verbatim_quote": "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 continued to grow.",
      "source_url": "https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026",
      "relevance": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "market_context": "- [HIGH] The UK construction market experienced 1.6% growth in 2024, bringing activity levels close to pre-COVID-19 figures. (source: https://www.jll.com/en-uk/guides/navigating-construction-cost-uncertainty)\n- [HIGH] Construction cost inflation in the UK was recorded at an average of 3.0% in 2024. (source: https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends)\n- [HIGH] UK construction cost inflation is projected to remain steady at 3.5% heading into 2025. (source: https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends)\n- [HIGH] The UK construction industry is forecast to grow by 2.2% in real terms in 2026. (source: https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/)\n- [MEDIUM] Industrial and infrastructure sectors, including energy and transport, are expected to support an average annual growth of 3.3% from 2027 to 2030. (source: https://www.globaldata.com/store/report/uk-construction-market-analysis/)\n- [HIGH] Tendering conditions in the UK are expected to remain stable as the market enters 2025. (source: https://publications.turnerandtownsend.com/global-construction-market-intelligence-2025/global-construction-cost-trends)\n- [MEDIUM] By 2026, the UK construction sector faces an uneven recovery with a growing pipeline but slow project conversion due to affordability and regulatory pressures. (source: https://www.arcadis.com/en-gb/insights/perspectives/europe/united-kingdom/uk-construction-market-view-spring-2026)"
}