New figures from construction data analyst Glenigan have found that activity was also up 12 per cent quarter-on-quarter in addition to the year-on-year rise.
Non-residential project starts were 13 per cent higher for the three months to September than the same period of 2017, with increases in industrial, offices, retail and health starts outweighing weakness in other sectors.
Civil engineering, however, saw a 2 per cent drop compared with the same period a year earlier.
Glenigan economics director Allan Wilén said: “Housebuilders appear to be making up for activity lost to poor weather during the first half of the year.
“Private residential starts during the three months to September were 17 per cent up on the same period a year ago.
“On a seasonally adjusted basis, starts were 16 per cent up compared with the three months to June.
“Social housing starts were 9 per cent down on a year ago, but were 12 per cent ahead of the second quarter on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Mr Wilén added that September also saw a sharp rise in the value of underlying offices, retail and health projects starting on site, helping to boost the overall figures.
https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/companies/contractors/project-starts-rise-10-in-latest-quarter/10035892.article