The Autumn Budget set out one of the largest public investment plans in decades, with more than £120 billion committed to infrastructure, energy, regeneration and public services. The Government described the package as a long-term plan for national renewal, with an emphasis on getting projects moving and creating visible activity across the built environment. For construction, this is a budget that brings clear opportunities, although some underlying pressures remain unresolved.
Much of the attention has centred on the renewed commitment to major national infrastructure. The Lower Thames Crossing received almost £900 million to push the scheme forward, while grid reinforcements, nuclear expansion, highways upgrades and new digital infrastructure all featured heavily. NHS estates will see new Neighbourhood Health Centres delivered, and additional regeneration funding has been set aside to unlock brownfield land and support local growth. For contractors and consultants, these commitments form a relatively secure pipeline and signal that the Government intends to accelerate delivery rather than simply planning for it.
Planning reform is another major theme. New funding for planning departments, mandatory decision timeframes and a fast-track route for nationally significant growth projects are all intended to reduce delays and get schemes shovel ready more quickly. Although positive in principle, many in the sector still question whether these measures go far enough to fix the long running capacity problems within local planning authorities. Housing delivery also remains a contentious point. The Budget reiterates support for new homes, but the gap between ambition and deliverability is still wide, especially for affordable and mixed tenure schemes.
The energy and net zero agenda continue to shape the direction of travel for the industry. Grid upgrades, nuclear investment, large scale retrofit programmes and support for decarbonising public buildings are all expected to boost demand for specialist skills in energy efficiency, engineering, refurbishment and building performance. For many firms, this is where the most sustained growth is likely to come from over the next decade.
Tax changes will have mixed consequences. A new high value property surcharge, alongside increases to dividend and capital gains taxation and a cap on pension salary sacrifice, may influence developer behaviour at the top end of the residential market. Meanwhile, rising labour costs and the ongoing skills shortage will continue to place pressure on contractors. The OBR’s revised productivity outlook, which forecasts weaker long-term growth, adds an additional note of caution.
Industry responses capture a blend of optimism and frustration, Richard Cook, Senior Economics Director at Pegasus Group, remarked: “today’s Budget was a critical opportunity to turn the tide… the fact remains that the construction sector – and housebuilding in particular – are still not set up to succeed.” He emphasised the decline in new dwellings, low productivity, labour shortages and the ripple effects of tax rises, warning that “additional action is urgently needed… we need to start seeing results rather than just empty promises.”
On the commercial property side, Michael Shapiro, Commercial Property Partner at Spencer West LLP, commented: “It’s evident this is a ‘political’ budget without producing anything to stimulate the mantra of ‘growth, growth, growth.’” He stressed that business rates remain the biggest barrier for high street recovery, adding: “this is something that needs to be addressed with urgency… the domino effect on retail and hospitality workers, builders, and tradespeople cannot be underestimated.”
Others focused on the impact of new taxation. Jonathan Handford, Managing Director at Fine & Country, raised concerns about the practicalities of the high value property surcharge. He pointed out that many qualifying homes have not changed hands in decades, making accurate valuations difficult and increasing the likelihood of homeowners restructuring titles to avoid additional charges. While he does not expect an immediate rush of sales, he warns that poorly defined rules could undermine confidence in the prime market.
From an infrastructure standpoint, Peter Hogg of Arcadis and the CBI said the Budget speaks positively about growth but does not match that ambition with real commitments. He noted the absence of new capital spending beyond existing plans and expressed concern that reforms around business rates could slow investment in commercial property. Hogg welcomed measures that support quality of life but argued that these should come from economic growth, not in place of it.
Across these responses, the theme is consistent. The Budget sets a clear direction for infrastructure, net zero and regeneration, but many in the industry still feel that housing supply, skills, planning capacity and private sector confidence have not received the decisive push needed to unlock their full potential. The construction sector stands ready to deliver, but it continues to look for long term clarity and support in the areas that are holding back progress.
Design & Build UK is gathering further views from across the industry. If you would like to share reaction from your organisation or sector, please send a short comment to editorial@designandbuilduk.net so we can include it in our next roundup.
Written By: Olivia Needham
