Build Warranty® Construction Intelligence
UK Construction Market Monitor
October 2026 Edition
Residential & Commercial Construction Intelligence
Published 9 October 2026
Headline
+33.1%
New orders — private industrial, Q2 2026 vs a year ago
Summary
In the October 2026 edition of the UK Construction Market Monitor, Build Warranty's analysis of official UK statistics shows: All construction work — output (Great Britain): £18,185m in July 2026; +0.1% on the previous month; -2.5% on July 2025. Housing starts (England): 38,510 in Q2 2026; +11.8% on the previous quarter; +20.7% on Q2 2025.
- All construction work — output (Great Britain): £18,185m in July 2026; +0.1% on the previous month; -2.5% on July 2025.
- Housing starts (England): 38,510 in Q2 2026; +11.8% on the previous quarter; +20.7% on Q2 2025.
- Private commercial new work — construction output (Great Britain): £1,946m in July 2026; -0.4% on the previous month; -0.5% on July 2025.
- Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales): 294 in August 2026; -19.9% on the previous month; +0.7% on August 2025.
- Construction material price index — all work (Great Britain): 166.9 in August 2026; +0.4% on the previous month; +6.4% on August 2025.
At a glance
October 2026 at a glance
All construction work — output
£18,185m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-2.5% vs a year ago
was £18,651m in July 2025
Housing starts
38,510
Q2 2026 · England
+20.7% vs a year ago
was 31,900 in Q2 2025
Housing completions
37,530
Q2 2026 · England
+1.4% vs a year ago
was 37,008 in Q2 2025
Private commercial new work — construction output
£1,946m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-0.5% vs a year ago
was £1,956m in July 2025
Private industrial new work — construction output
£685m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-8.7% vs a year ago
was £750m in July 2025
Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales)
294
August 2026 · England and Wales
+0.7% vs a year ago
was 292 in August 2025
Construction company insolvencies (Scotland)
13
August 2026 · Scotland
-7.1% vs a year ago
was 14 in August 2025
Construction material price index — all work
166.9
August 2026 · Great Britain
+6.4% vs a year ago
was 156.8 in August 2025
Year on year
Where the market stands against a year ago
| Figure | Latest | Value | A year ago | Change | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales) (England and Wales) | August 2026 | 294 | 292 | +0.7% | Steady |
| Construction company insolvencies (Scotland) (Scotland) | August 2026 | 13 | 14 | -7.1% | Lower |
| New construction company incorporations — all construction (SIC Section F) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 6,010 | 6,587 | -8.8% | Lower |
| Construction of buildings (SIC 41) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 2,527 | 2,584 | -2.2% | Lower |
| Civil engineering (SIC 42) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 299 | 373 | -19.8% | Lower |
| Specialised construction activities (SIC 43) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 3,791 | 4,261 | -11.0% | Lower |
| Development of building projects (SIC 41100) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 1,019 | 1,149 | -11.3% | Lower |
| Construction of domestic buildings (SIC 41202) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 1,502 | 1,451 | +3.5% | Higher |
| Construction of commercial buildings (SIC 41201) (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 553 | 605 | -8.6% | Lower |
| Companies listing both SIC 41201 and 41202 (United Kingdom) | September 2026 | 381 | 412 | -7.5% | Lower |
| Construction material price index — all work (Great Britain) | August 2026 | 166.9 | 156.8 | +6.4% | Higher |
| Construction material price index — new housing (Great Britain) | August 2026 | 168.2 | 159.3 | +5.6% | Higher |
| Average weekly earnings — construction (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £772 | £763 | +1.2% | Higher |
| Housing starts (England) | Q2 2026 | 38,510 | 31,900 | +20.7% | Higher |
| Housing completions (England) | Q2 2026 | 37,530 | 37,008 | +1.4% | Higher |
| Private new housing — construction output (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £3,075m | £3,323m | -7.5% | Lower |
| Public new housing — construction output (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £615m | £790m | -22.1% | Lower |
| New orders — private new housing (Great Britain) | Q2 2026 | £2,333m | £2,066m | +12.9% | Higher |
| New orders — public new housing (Great Britain) | Q2 2026 | £327m | £404m | -19.1% | Lower |
| Private commercial new work — construction output (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £1,946m | £1,956m | -0.5% | Steady |
| Private industrial new work — construction output (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £685m | £750m | -8.7% | Lower |
| New orders — private commercial (Great Britain) | Q2 2026 | £1,988m | £2,782m | -28.5% | Lower |
| New orders — private industrial (Great Britain) | Q2 2026 | £1,127m | £847m | +33.1% | Higher |
| All construction work — output (Great Britain) | July 2026 | £18,185m | £18,651m | -2.5% | Lower |
Green is good news for the market, red is not, grey means a change under 1% either way.
The report
Full report
All construction work — output
£18,185m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-2.5% vs a year ago
was £18,651m in July 2025
All construction work — output (Great Britain): £18,185m in July 2026; +0.1% on the previous month; -2.5% on July 2025.
Housing starts (England): 38,510 in Q2 2026; +11.8% on the previous quarter; +20.7% on Q2 2025.
Private commercial new work — construction output (Great Britain): £1,946m in July 2026; -0.4% on the previous month; -0.5% on July 2025.
Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales): 294 in August 2026; -19.9% on the previous month; +0.7% on August 2025.
Construction material price index — all work (Great Britain): 166.9 in August 2026; +0.4% on the previous month; +6.4% on August 2025.
Housing starts
38,510
Q2 2026 · England
+20.7% vs a year ago
was 31,900 in Q2 2025
Housing completions
37,530
Q2 2026 · England
+1.4% vs a year ago
was 37,008 in Q2 2025
Private new housing — construction output
£3,075m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-7.5% vs a year ago
was £3,323m in July 2025
Public new housing — construction output
£615m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-22.1% vs a year ago
was £790m in July 2025
New orders — private new housing
£2,333m
Q2 2026 · Great Britain
+12.9% vs a year ago
was £2,066m in Q2 2025
New orders — public new housing
£327m
Q2 2026 · Great Britain
-19.1% vs a year ago
was £404m in Q2 2025
Housing starts (England): 38,510 in Q2 2026; +11.8% on the previous quarter; +20.7% on Q2 2025.
Housing completions (England): 37,530 in Q2 2026; +11.2% on the previous quarter; +1.4% on Q2 2025.
Private new housing — construction output (Great Britain): £3,075m in July 2026; -4.9% on the previous month; -7.5% on July 2025.
Public new housing — construction output (Great Britain): £615m in July 2026; +3.2% on the previous month; -22.2% on July 2025.
New orders — private new housing (Great Britain): £2,333m in Q2 2026; -3.7% on the previous quarter; +12.9% on Q2 2025.
New orders — public new housing (Great Britain): £327m in Q2 2026; -2.1% on the previous quarter; -19.1% on Q2 2025.
Private commercial new work — construction output
£1,946m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-0.5% vs a year ago
was £1,956m in July 2025
Private industrial new work — construction output
£685m
July 2026 · Great Britain
-8.7% vs a year ago
was £750m in July 2025
New orders — private commercial
£1,988m
Q2 2026 · Great Britain
-28.5% vs a year ago
was £2,782m in Q2 2025
New orders — private industrial
£1,127m
Q2 2026 · Great Britain
+33.1% vs a year ago
was £847m in Q2 2025
Private commercial new work — construction output (Great Britain): £1,946m in July 2026; -0.4% on the previous month; -0.5% on July 2025.
Private industrial new work — construction output (Great Britain): £685m in July 2026; +1.0% on the previous month; -8.7% on July 2025.
New orders — private commercial (Great Britain): £1,988m in Q2 2026; -21.0% on the previous quarter; -28.5% on Q2 2025.
New orders — private industrial (Great Britain): £1,127m in Q2 2026; -10.1% on the previous quarter; +33.1% on Q2 2025.
Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales)
294
August 2026 · England and Wales
+0.7% vs a year ago
was 292 in August 2025
Construction company insolvencies (Scotland)
13
August 2026 · Scotland
-7.1% vs a year ago
was 14 in August 2025
New construction company incorporations — all construction (SIC Section F)
6,010
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-8.8% vs a year ago
was 6,587 in September 2025
Construction of buildings (SIC 41)
2,527
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-2.2% vs a year ago
was 2,584 in September 2025
Civil engineering (SIC 42)
299
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-19.8% vs a year ago
was 373 in September 2025
Specialised construction activities (SIC 43)
3,791
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-11.0% vs a year ago
was 4,261 in September 2025
Development of building projects (SIC 41100)
1,019
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-11.3% vs a year ago
was 1,149 in September 2025
Construction of domestic buildings (SIC 41202)
1,502
September 2026 · United Kingdom
+3.5% vs a year ago
was 1,451 in September 2025
Construction of commercial buildings (SIC 41201)
553
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-8.6% vs a year ago
was 605 in September 2025
Companies listing both SIC 41201 and 41202
381
September 2026 · United Kingdom
-7.5% vs a year ago
was 412 in September 2025
Construction company insolvencies (England and Wales): 294 in August 2026; -19.9% on the previous month; +0.7% on August 2025.
Construction company insolvencies (Scotland): 13 in August 2026; -7.1% on the previous month; -7.1% on August 2025.
New construction company incorporations — all construction (SIC Section F) (United Kingdom): 6,010 in September 2026; +11.4% on the previous month; -8.8% on September 2025.
Construction of buildings (SIC 41) (United Kingdom): 2,527 in September 2026; +14.0% on the previous month; -2.2% on September 2025.
Civil engineering (SIC 42) (United Kingdom): 299 in September 2026; +7.9% on the previous month; -19.8% on September 2025.
Specialised construction activities (SIC 43) (United Kingdom): 3,791 in September 2026; +9.4% on the previous month; -11.0% on September 2025.
Development of building projects (SIC 41100) (United Kingdom): 1,019 in September 2026; +21.0% on the previous month; -11.3% on September 2025.
Construction of domestic buildings (SIC 41202) (United Kingdom): 1,502 in September 2026; +13.3% on the previous month; +3.5% on September 2025.
Construction of commercial buildings (SIC 41201) (United Kingdom): 553 in September 2026; +5.9% on the previous month; -8.6% on September 2025.
Companies listing both SIC 41201 and 41202 (United Kingdom): 381 in September 2026; +12.7% on the previous month; -7.5% on September 2025.
Construction material price index — all work
166.9
August 2026 · Great Britain
+6.4% vs a year ago
was 156.8 in August 2025
Construction material price index — new housing
168.2
August 2026 · Great Britain
+5.6% vs a year ago
was 159.3 in August 2025
Average weekly earnings — construction
£772
July 2026 · Great Britain
+1.2% vs a year ago
was £763 in July 2025
Construction material price index — all work (Great Britain): 166.9 in August 2026; +0.4% on the previous month; +6.4% on August 2025.
Construction material price index — new housing (Great Britain): 168.2 in August 2026; +0.5% on the previous month; +5.6% on August 2025.
Average weekly earnings — construction (Great Britain): £772 in July 2026; +0.9% on the previous month; +1.2% on July 2025.
Figures are taken from the official sources listed below. Each figure keeps its own geography and reporting period. Construction output is monthly; new orders and housebuilding starts and completions are quarterly. Monthly and quarterly figures are never combined.
Commercial construction means building and development activity. It does not refer to commercial property prices, rents or yields. Private commercial, private industrial, public non-housing and infrastructure work are kept as separate categories as defined by the Office for National Statistics.
Companies House: a company listing several SIC codes is counted once in each matching category and once in the overall total. Latest periods may be provisional and revised by the source.
Source: Companies House — Public Data API — advanced company search. https://developer.company-information.service.gov.uk/
Source: Department for Business and Trade — Building Materials and Components Statistics. https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/building-materials-and-components-monthly-statistics-2012
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government — Live tables on house building. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building
Source: Office for National Statistics — Average weekly earnings — construction (K5DX). https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/timeseries/k5dx/emp
Source: The Insolvency Service — Company Insolvency Statistics (monthly). https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/monthly-insolvency-statistics
Official sources
- Companies House: Public Data API — advanced company search
- Department for Business and Trade: Building Materials and Components Statistics
- Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Live tables on house building
- Office for National Statistics: Average weekly earnings — construction (K5DX)
- The Insolvency Service: Company Insolvency Statistics (monthly)
How to cite this report
Build Warranty (2026). UK Construction Market Monitor: Residential & Commercial Construction Intelligence, October 2026 edition. Available at https://www.buildwarranty.co.uk/construction-intelligence/reports/2026-10
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