UK Construction Market Size - By Construction Type, By End Use, By Contracting Type, By Scale Forecast 2025 – 2034

UK Construction Market Size

The UK construction market was valued at USD 256.6 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 388.6 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.3% from 2025 to 2034, primarily associated to the government’s commitment to infrastructure development. One of the areas of focus is the expansion of the UK’s aviation network, which is the third largest in the world after U.S. and China.
 

London’s airports are connected to more destinations than any other city in Europe, which increases the demand for capacity. In reply to this, the UK government has a number of policies to deal with these issues. One of the projects is the construction of new terminals at London City Airport which has been granted permission to expand its facilities to serve 9 million passengers by 2031. This will greatly increase congestion in the region. These large-scale construction projects are prompting an increase in the volume of construction services, in turn increasing investment opportunities, as well as market growth.
 

The increasing need for residential construction is one of the most important factors impacting the growth of the UK construction market. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that the population of the UK will grow by 6.6 million (9.9%) from 2021 to 2036. This rapid growth of the population, in conjunction with the urbanization trends, is creating a spike in the demand for housing, which is increasing the supply of residential construction. The government has put in place many new housing policies to speed up development such as funding and fast-tracked planning permission. Together with the high demand for affordable and eco-friendly housing, this will continue to drive construction industry growth in the UK.
 

UK Construction Market Trends

• Modern methods of construction (MMC) such as modular construction, 3D printing, and prefabrication, are being adopted by UK construction companies. These techniques garnered a lot of attention for their ability to improve efficiency, lower construction costs, and reduce waste, which ultimately creates a greener and more competitive industry.
   
• The UK construction sector is working on mitigating its environmental footprints by adopting eco-friendly building materials and energy conserving designs and constructing green buildings. The European region's objective of achieving climate neutrality by 2050 is already being aided by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector by 35% as of January 2023.
   
• More legally binding policies like the Future Homes Standard and the UK’s net-zero emissions targets are considerably modernizing the construction industry. Builders are adopting advanced technologies for eco-friendly construction due to stringent requirements related to energy consumption and emission reduction.
   
• The UK remains an advanced region for construction technologies, bringing a lot of international collaborations with foreign investments and joint ventures. This allows the UK to strengthen its position in the European construction market.
   
• From the construction firms’ perspective, project estimation, planning, safety, and overall efficiency are being advanced by using BIM, AI, and automation. The industry is continuously changing as these technologies are minimizing delays caused due to resource underutilization and improving resource optimization.
   

Based on type, the UK construction market is segmented into residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructure & heavy civil, institutional, mixed-use, specialized, renovation/remodeling construction, and environmental. The residential segment was valued at USD 48.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach over USD 80.4 billion by 2034, while growing at a CAGR of 5.3%.
 

• The UK government’s goal is to boost the annual output of new houses to 370,000, which totals 1.5 million houses in the next five years. As a result, there is greater investment and development towards the residential construction sector.
   
• Subsidized initiatives like the Affordable Homes Programme and Help to Buy are assisting first-time buyers and stimulating the need for new housing developments. These programs also motivate private investment in residential building construction.
   
• Institutional funding has transformed the housing market due to the rise in Build-to-Rent (BTR) developments. Developers are concentrating on constructing high-quality, amenity-rich, long-term rental housing as the demand for such rentals increases.
   

Based on end use, the market is bifurcated into private sector and public sector. The private sector segment held a market share of 74.7% in 2024.
 

• The private sector is essential to the UK construction market as it is the leading force behind residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Marked expansion of the market is driven by private developers, real estate companies, and institutional investors.
   
• The increasing demand for rental housing has drawn more attention from investors seeking Build-to-Rent (BTR) projects. These developments attract both domestic and international investors as they offer long-term rentals of high-quality houses equipped with modern facilities. The growth of the private rented sector has been astonishing, with the number of households renting privately in England rising from 2 million in 2000 to 4.61 million in 2022.
   
• Constructors in the private sector are utilizing advanced technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence (AI), and prefabrication to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and meet project deadlines.
   

Based on the contracting type, the UK construction market is divided into general contracting, design-build contracting, and construction management. General contraction segment held a significant market share in 2024 and is expected to maintain its position during the forecast period.
 

• General contracting is still widely used in the UK construction industry, especially for large-scale residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. This model provides single-point responsibility which enables streamlined cost and project execution controls.
   
• End-to-end management is also provided by general contractors who assume responsibility for procurement, labor management, regulatory compliance, and final construction delivery. Such specialty is in high demand with experienced contractors offering more diverse capabilities that meet emerging market needs.
   
• Empirical studies and longitudinal data have veritably supported that delegated budgeting under general contracting is highly effective in cost control and risk mitigation because the contractor assumes the responsibility for executing the project. This results in a lower financial risk for developers while guaranteeing timely completion of the project.
   

UK Construction Market Share

• The UK construction industry is fragmented with top 5 players including VINCI SA, ACS Group, Skanska AB, Bouygues Construction, Hochtief AG held a share of about 20-25% in 2024.
   
• VINCI SA - Specializes in the execution of large-scale infrastructure and civil engineering projects, including transport, energy, and public works. The company’s competitive advantage results from strategic acquisitions and an established position in public-private partnership (PPP) projects.
   
• ACS Group – focused on Engineering and Infrastructure as well as Residential Construction with digital transformation focus. ACS’s competitive advantage stems from adopting and deploying advanced technologies like AI and BIM to project execution, enhancing efficiency and cost control.
   
• Skanska AB – As a frontrunner in the world of sustainable construction, Skanska focuses on energy efficient buildings and green certifications in addition to low carbon building materials. This spell of sustainability adds to the company’s reputation as well as the UK’s net-zero goals for sustainable competitiveness.
   
• Bouygues Construction – Smart construction and modular building techniques are the innovative hallmarks of this company that makes it faster and more cost effective to complete construction projects. The company utilizes innovative R&D in digital construction methods, which is increasing its foothold in the UK Market.
   
• Hochtief AG – Access to international construction experience and funding from ACS Group’s parent company enables the firm to compete for major infrastructure contracts. The firm’s advantage is centered on completing sophisticated, high-value projects while controlling risks, finances, and providing robust mid-project stability.
   

UK Construction Market Companies

Major players operating in the UK construction industry include:

• ACS Group
• Bouygues Construction
• Costain Group PLC
• Crest Nicholson Holdings PLC
• Eiffage S.A.
• Ferrovial S.A.
• Hochtief AG
• Interserve Group Limited
• Skanska AB
• VINCI SA
   

Sustainability, the adoption of new technologies, and strategic collaborations continue to be the focus areas for construction companies in the UK. Government policies requiring the reduction of carbon emissions are forcing companies such as Skanska AB and VINCI SA to adopt greater energy efficient building techniques, use green construction materials, and, where possible, implement zero emission policies. In response to the increased demand for residential and infrastructure projects, several firms are also investing in automation and modular construction to increase efficiency and decrease waste. In addition, the digital transformation is critical to these companies, as they implement BIM, AI, and automation for better planning and project execution.
 

Another important focus is the strategy for growth based on acquisitions and joint ventures. Bouygues Construction and Hochtief AG are acquiring local firms to consolidate their market position and forming strategic partnerships with technologic providers and governmental agencies. These joint ventures facilitate the procurement of large-scale public infrastructure projects, especially in the transportation and energy sectors. As a result, firms are shifting their focus on investing in public private partnerships (PPPs) to develop long lasting high value projects while minimizing cost exposure. Companies are also seeking to maintain a competitive advantage by diversifying their portfolios into residential, commercial, and industrial construction.
 

As an example, VINCI SA has executed its sustainability strategy by developing eco-friendly infrastructure projects like low-carbon highways and energy-efficient buildings. Another example includes the Skanska AB, which is well known for its green construction initiatives. Skanska has undertaken major environmentally compliant projects such as the London-based 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper that is equipped with advanced energy-saving features. ACS Group applies knowledge of adaptive digital construction technologies by using AI-based project management tools, which optimize functions and minimize delays in construction.
 

UK Construction Market News

• In October 2024, a subsidiary of the Scottish and Southern Energy Group PLC, SSE Renewables, begun construction of a Monk Fryston, North Yorkshire, battery storage facility. The new battery energy storage system (BESS) project is anticipated to power more than 500,000 homes for up to 2 hours during peak energy consumption periods.
   
• In August 2023, McAleer and Rushe announced that they had commenced work on the last phase of Southbank Place in London. The Southbank Place Building 5 development is located 100 m from the London Eye and has a value of GBP 138 million (USD 174.34 million) This development forms part of Shell Tower master plan in London South Bank.
   
• In March 2023, significant investments in transportation were announced by The UK Department of Transport valued at over GBP 40 billion (USD 50.54 billion) during the next two fiscal years, focusing on developing the nation's railroads and roads.
   
• In January 2023, a contract was signed between VINCI Construction and Wilmotte & Associates Architecture to fast-track the construction operations propriety. The companies are expected to collectively spend more than USD 197 million, and within four years, they will jointly execute new buildings, all interior trades works & the maintenance of the new site.
   

The UK construction market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecast in terms of revenue (USD Billion) from 2018 to 2034, for the following segments:

Click here to Buy Section of this Report

Market, By Construction Type

• Residential construction
• Commercial construction
  • Sports facilities construction
  • Hospitality facilities construction
  • Retail facilities construction
  • Office buildings construction
• Industrial construction
• Infrastructure & heavy civil construction
• Institutional construction
  • Healthcare facilities construction
  • Educational facilities construction
• Mixed-use construction
• Specialized construction
• Renovation/Remodeling construction
• Environmental construction

Market, By End Use

• Private sector
• Public sector

Market, By Contracting Type

• General contracting
• Design-build contracting
• Construction management

Market, By Scale

• Mega project
• Major project
• Medium project
• Small project