Construction sector sees further declines in 2013

THE Scottish construction sector showed little sign of recovery in the first quarter of 2013 as chartered surveyors reported weak prospects for both future output and employment.

Releasing its latest market survey, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) Scotland called on the Scottish Government to unlock finance streams and planning and procurement barriers in an effort to boost the sector’s prospects and that of the wider economy.

Sarah Speirs, director Rics Scotland, argued that the government’s infrastructure investment plan “can aid recovery” but that “it is fundamental that the Scottish Government engages with external stakeholders to establish the right conditions through funding and improvements to the planning and procurement systems, to move ‘shovel-ready’ projects forward”.

Rics found that there was a continued decline of workloads across Scotland, with 18 per cent more surveyors reporting that they expect workloads to fall over the coming 12 months. A significant reduction in infrastructure projects was reported, with a net balance of 27 per cent more Scottish surveyors reporting falls rather than rises.

Overall, workloads are expected to drop by a further 2.5 per cent over the next 12 months with employment in the sector projected to fall by a slightly smaller amount.