Total construction output showed no growth in the first quarter of 2025, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics.

But new orders in the sector increased by almost 27%.

There was no growth (0.0%) from January to March, compared with last three months of 2024.

Over the period new work increased by 0.9%, while repair and maintenance fell by 1.2%.

Monthly construction output is estimated to have grown by 0.5% in March - this follows a downwardly revised increase of 0.2% in February 2025 and an unrevised decrease of 0.3% in January 2025.

The increase in monthly output in March 2025 came from increases in both new work, and repair and maintenance, which grew by 0.6% and 0.4%, respectively.

Anecdotal evidence from survey returns noted the positive effects of warmer and milder weather.

At the sector level, five out of the nine sectors grew in March 2025. The main contributors to the monthly increase were private housing and infrastructure new work, which rose by 2.3% and 2.5%, respectively.

Total construction new orders grew by 26.6% (£2,447m) in Q1 2025 compared with Q4 2024, this quarterly increase came mainly from infrastructure new work and private industrial new work.

Scott Motley, head of programme, project and cost management at AECOM, said: “A continued uptick in output suggests the sector may be entering a more stable period as it moves into what’s typically a busier time of year.

“While the improvement offers encouragement, maintaining momentum will be the sector’s number one priority as it continues to contend with wider economic pressures.

“The government has set the tone with its ambition to deliver new infrastructure and housing, but it needs the private sector’s support to get large-scale projects moving.

“The latest round of interest rate cuts will have boosted confidence in the short-term, however the upcoming Spending Review is uniquely placed to give the sector long-term clarity over the major investment decisions that must be made in order to deliver the infrastructure we desperately need across the UK.”

New ONS data today also showed gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 0.7% in Q1, following growth of 0.1% in the previous quarter.

In output terms, growth in 1 was driven by an increase of 0.7% in the services sector, production also grew, by 1.1%, while the construction sector showed no growth.