Construction output in Great Britain rose for the third consecutive month in April 2025, according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Monthly output increased by 0.9% in volume terms, driven by growth in new build work and a modest uplift in repair and maintenance.
The data points to continuing resilience in the construction sector despite the broader economic uncertainty, with April marking the longest sustained period of monthly growth since early 2022. The main driver of April’s performance was a 1.4% rise in new construction work, while repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) work rose by 0.3%.
Among the standout areas of growth were infrastructure, which rose by 2.0%, and private housing repair and maintenance, which increased by 1.5%. In total, six out of the nine monitored construction sectors reported growth, underlining a broad-based recovery across the industry.
Over the three-month period to April 2025, construction output rose by 0.5%, reflecting continued expansion in both new work (up 0.9%) and maintenance activity (up 0.1%). Notably, new work in the infrastructure sector saw a quarterly increase of 3.5%, while public housing RMI rose by 2.7%, adding further evidence of momentum in public sector investment and residential development.
This sustained improvement comes at a critical time for the UK economy. While GDP contracted by 0.3% in April—driven by declines in services and production—construction remained the only major sector to post positive growth, reaffirming its importance to national economic stability and growth prospects.
David Hopkins, CEO of Timber Development UK, said: “The continued growth in newbuild housing is welcome news for the timber industry. Timber remains a vital component in sustainable construction, and housebuilding is a key driver of timber demand across the UK. This steady rise in output gives us greater confidence to invest in supply chain resilience, skills and innovation to meet future demand.”
The next set of construction output figures from the ONS is due to be published on 11 July 2025.
