The first two months of 2015 has seen a huge increase in the number of planning approvals which have grown by over a third compared with the same period in 2014.


The figures which have been produced by construction data experts Glenigan, planning approvals were up 36% on Jan and Feb with 54% expansion in non-residential approvals.


This is fantastic news for the construction industry, with construction activity having taken a slight dip towards the start of the years, as this suggests and increase in construction starts, thereby a surge in construction jobs and demand for construction supplies. So yes, we should be seeing more hard hats on site later this year.


Year on year there are some causes for concern with residential construction starts being relatively flat whilst civil engineering starts are similarly flat with only 3% growth year on year.


Allan Wilén, Economics Director at Glenigan, said: “The overhang of last year’s relatively muted rise in approvals, coupled with some private sector clients potentially pursuing a ‘wait-and-see’ approach during the run up to the general election, may keep starts subdued into the second quarter.


“However this replenishing bank of prospective projects with detailed permissions bodes well for growth during the second half of this year, especially if a credible government emerges quickly from the aftermath of the election.”


The English regions also saw and East vs West split in the first quarter of the year with the East showing a marked increase in the number of starts when compared with Western regions (whilst London has also seen a dip in the number of construction starts).


The number of planning approvals we’ve seen in the first couple of months of 2015 points to signs of increasing construction industry growth in the coming months, which will continue to filter through from the largest to the smallest construction firms.


The position of residential starts is likely to begin to be positively affected following the general election as the housing crisis has become a major part of the parties’ election campaigns.