London construction outlook strengthens
Construction activity in London is recovering, with growth across mixed-use, commercial and infrastructure projects, according to Glenigan.
The capital was the UK’s strongest-performing region in the three months to February. The value of underlying project starts under £100m rose 29% on the previous quarter and was up 30% year on year.
Major regeneration schemes are set to drive further activity. Work is due to start later this year on the £219m first phase of the Earls Court redevelopment, part of a wider £10bn scheme (Project ID: 24286543).
At Brent Cross, construction is expected to begin this summer on a £147m student accommodation scheme for Fusion Group, with JJ Rhatigan & Co as main contractor (Project ID: 24238548). Approval has also been secured for a £61.6m co-living scheme on the site (Project ID: 24247777).
Data centres remain a key source of work. A £100m extension to Pure Data Centres’ Brent Cross facility is due to start this summer (Project ID: 22210304), while the £1.22bn London Data Freeport in Havering is set to get underway later this year (Project ID: 22405932).
In the City of London, several office schemes are moving forward. Construction is due to start this autumn on Brookfield’s £477m 99 Bishopsgate tower (Project ID: 23331236), while Bovis has been appointed on a £200m refurbishment at the London Stock Exchange (Project ID: 25489163).
Elsewhere, work is scheduled to begin this summer on the £700m British Library extension and Imperial College’s £300m White City life sciences scheme (Project IDs: 15291949, 24330948).
Infrastructure will also support workloads. A contract notice is expected this summer for the £1.62bn DLR extension to Thamesmead, with construction due to start next year (Project ID: 23194064). Preparatory works are now underway on the £11bn Lower Thames Crossing, with main works planned from 2028 (Project ID: 91161081).
