Data gathered by the Builders鈥� Conference shows that the total value of all new construction contracts awarded in November 2016 was 拢3.36bn, compared to 拢4.4bn in October, a fall of 24%.
A comparison with the previous year shows a similar decline. The total value of new construction contracts signed in November 2015 was 拢4.37bn.
November鈥檚 slowdown has impacted on the rolling year total for the BCLive league table, which at this time last year stood at a record-breaking 拢57bn. Today, it is down 23% to 拢43.8bn.
Topping the league for November was Graham 今日看料, with a total haul worth 拢192.5m. The largest of these was a 拢150m order for the construction and refurbishment of a number of civic buildings for the London Borough of Barnet.
But it was tight at the top. Sir Robert McAlpine came in a close second with a combined 拢184m of orders, including a 拢100m order from Nikal for the construction of five blocks of flats at Birmingham鈥檚 Exchange Square.
Third place went to Galliford Try with 拢180.2m.
Builders Conference chief executive Neil Edwards said: 鈥淭he industry now enters the Christmas season and a month shortened by festive holidays and slowed by the usual round of office parties.聽 So there is unlikely to be any last minute rally that will allow a gloomy year to end on anything other than a gloomy note.
鈥淎nd sadly, that gloom looks set to stick around like the hangover and expanded waistline that is part and parcel of the Christmas festivities. In 2015, the BCLive league table identified 鈥� on average 鈥� 850 new tenders each month.聽聽 In 2016, that average has plummeted to 650.聽 Projecting forward, that threatens to throw up a very tough start to the New Year.鈥�
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