£217m boost for Scottish construction as project awards surge

The report shows that the total pipeline value more than doubled in Q3, rising to £25 billion from £11bn in Q2, despite the number of published projects dropping from 849 to 654.

The sharp upturn has been driven by the publication of several major new projects, the top three being:

• A programme of new build school projects, worth a total of £15.4bn
• A new build energy centre, Wren Hall in North Yorkshire, worth £600 million
• The new Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, worth £389m 

The report also highlights that construction buoyancy is no longer confined to the South East of England, with regional markets demonstrating exceptional strength in both project pipelines and contracts awarded.

Scotland has shown positive momentum in Q3, with the number of projects awarded rising from 40 in Q2 to 60 in Q3, worth a total of £217m.

Ireland led the way for project value, securing £365m across seven projects. The region also saw its pipeline value surge from £590m in Q2 to £2bn in Q3. The largest single contract awarded in the quarter was for the new build Strule Shared Education Centre in County Tyrone, worth £248m.

Yorkshire saw published opportunities more than double from £464m in Q2 to £1bn in Q3, driven by major projects including Wren Hall 400kV Converter Station, Wellington Plaza, a new build office scheme and St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy. 

Commenting on the report, Scott McVey, commercial director, Once For All, said: “Our Q3 data reveals an interesting shift towards larger, high-value contracts that are currently dominating the UK construction market. 

“The £25bn pipeline indicates a robust future for the industry, but also a growing need for contractors to ensure they have the financial and compliance credentials necessary to secure a slice of the available opportunities.

“The report also underscores that the public sector, specifically Education, Health, and Energy, is the primary driver of this high-value activity, so a focus on supplier pre-qualification and compliance remains paramount.”