Now that the dust from the Budget is settling, the construction industry is waiting for the autumn’s Comprehensive Spending Review to confirm future levels of workload. The Budget confirmed £20bn of cuts in capital investment previously announced in the spring, together with the £6.2bn review announced since the election – representing a 50% real terms reduction in spending.

The Department of Transport has already announced a freeze on project approvals, but some schemes were approved in the Budget, including the Leeds-Liverpool rail upgrade. However, the chancellor also acknowledged that further cuts to infrastructure should not take place, albeit that the detailed allocation of spending may change in the light of affordability and value for money tests.

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