Output passed £100bn mark last year

Construction output passed the £100bn mark last year, according to the latest data from the Department of Trade & Industry.

Total output in 2004 was £102.3bn, up 10% on 2003's total of £93.2bn. New build output increased 11% to £57.2bn, while output from repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) increased 5% to £45.1bn.

In new build, all sectors bar one increased year-on-year, the exception being (unsurprisingly) infrastructure, which fell back 12% to £10.5bn. Private industrial grew 9% to £3.9bn, private commercial increased 11% to £16.8bn and other public was boosted 18% to £10.5bn.

Unsurprisingly, the most growth was enjoyed in housing: private housing output was up 26% to £16.8bn, while public housing jumped 29% to £2.6bn.

In RMI, housing was the main driver: private up 8% to £14.9bn and public up 11% to £8.3bn. The other public and other private generated increases of just 1% to £8bn and £13.8bn respectively.