The UK’s largest builders group – the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) – says its latest state of trade survey shows the net balance for workloads, expected workloads and enquiries in the second quarter was positive across most of the UK for the first time since 2007.
It said the signs were that business confidence was improving for SME builders.
"After one of the toughest and most sustained economic downturns since the second world war, it is encouraging to see conditions may be easing for Britain’s beleaguered builders," said Brian Berry, FMB chief executive.
But Mr Berry said that while the figures "were a sign that the worst may finally be behind us", the building trade still had a long way to go to get back to pre-2008 levels of employment and output.
He said the government’s Green Deal and Funding for Lending schemes were underperforming and not providing the necessary boost for builders, while public procurement contracts were difficult to access for small construction firms.
But the FMB did highlight the Help to Buy scheme as having a positive impact on the property market.
Meanwhile, the Construction Products Association’s own latest state of trade survey indicates that construction product sales recovered in the second quarter, principally due to a bounce following the Q1 slump.
Heavy side product sales volumes rose on the first quarter but contracted year-on-year, while light side sales were unchanged from Q1.
"Looking ahead, product manufacturers remain optimistic about sales growth," said CPA economist Milja Keijonen.
"Recent data releases on the UK economy have fuelled optimism over growth prospects. Also, market conditions are expected to improve as the year progresses with private housing one of the key sectors expected to boost domestic demand."
