The latest Deloitte Regional Crane Surveys for 2025 takes a detailed look at the UK’s regional city construction sector, reviewing economic prosperity in the regions and how their plans for developments reflect current trends across the built environment.
The construction sector has, like the rest of the UK economy, had to adjust to major challenges in recent years and months. From the uncertainty surrounding Brexit to Covid, the conflict in Ukraine and the knock-on effect on energy prices which intensified inflationary pressures; each factor has impacted local economic stability and development.
Underlying all of this the ever-present threat posed by the rise in global temperatures and the increasing number of extreme weather events across the world.
Here, we highlight some of the findings within the Surveys around commercial developments across three major regional centres: Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester.
According to a regional Economic Review published in 2024 by the Chamber of Commerce, Birmingham and the West Midlands were among the areas hardest hit by the recent shocks delivered to the UK economy.
So it’s encouraging to see that local business confidence is returning, and that the city has been the beneficiary of major infrastructure developments, notably HS2. It’s also notable that the number of Foreign Investment Projects (133 in total) in Birmingham currently ranks as the highest in the country outside of London.
Deloitte’s Surveys indicate that the city has 36 developments under construction, albeit with just 11 new schemes starting in 2024. However, the number of office and student residential sector projects is on the rise and - although there were no new starts in healthcare, hotel, retail, and leisure sectors - the Survey reports that the pre-construction pipeline is now looking healthier.
The authors highlight that access to finance would be one of the key drivers to help unlock further potential within the UK’s second largest city. They also identify the need for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors in order to attract investment, including the application of funding and grants.
Tate has supplied 177,600 sq ft of RMG600+ raised access floors to a landmark new building in central Birmingham. The project is due for completion in May 2025, so look out for more updates on the eye-catching Three Chamberlain Square
Deloitte’s Surveys report that Leeds City Centre is taking major steps towards creating an inclusive, liveable, and connected city centre.
Leeds is the UK’s second-largest centre for start-up businesses and “innovation-led growth”, while larger employers (such as the Financial Conduct Authority) are also in evidence, attracted by its competitive rents and the availability of skilled labour.
These positive indicators are helping to attract inward investment supported by collaborations across the city’s main institutions, the private sector, and the local authority.
There are currently 11 new construction projects underway, although only two new office schemes - something which the authors consider may reflect both wider economic uncertainty and changing occupier needs.
While that may appear disappointing, it may be a market adjustment rather than a decline. As the needs of tenants have changed, so the focus has been on creating spaces that prioritise flexibility and collaboration, as well as offering the lure of shorter leases.
Meanwhile, education projects seem to be on the up with Leeds City College Mabgate Campus and the Arts University Extension both under development.
The report’s authors highlight that Leeds is making great strides by, “embracing change, fostering innovation, and prioritising sustainability”, and is therefore considered “well-positioned” for future prosperity.
Tate has supplied 204,500 sq ft of RMG600 raised access floors to a major regeneration project on the Leeds's South Bank
Find out more about the hugely exciting Aire Park.
Development within Manchester and Salford appears to be buoyant with no less than 20 new construction projects starting in 2024, despite a third year of decreased starts.
According to the Surveys, these developments included 1.1 million sq. ft. of office space with more than 1.5 million sq. ft. under construction.
Deloitte notes that there has been a considerable focus on high-quality, flexible and sustainable refurbishment of existing spaces, rather than investing in new projects (a total of five out of six new office schemes in 2024 were refurbishments). This is another indication of how offices are evolving to help reinvigorate work environments, creating spaces that are fit-for-purpose in the modern era. It may also be a pragmatic response to rising construction costs and the struggle to cover these costs with office rents.
This year’s Deloitte Surveys are particularly interesting because the construction industry is considered an important indicator of economic health. As such, the findings are an indication of the levels of resilience and recovery across some of the UK’s major regional cities.
There are clearly encouraging signs as the country adjusts to the aftermath of some major economic shocks. The focus on flexibility, agility, and sustainability certainly allies closely with Tate’s continued focus for product development, service delivery, and our support for our commercial development partners.
We are open and transparent about sharing the standards, accreditations and certifications that we have used to independently back our own product claims.
We are helping to spearhead a path for better environmental stewardship and lower impact, not just in raised access floors, but across the building sector. Our approach includes panel reuse, the use of recycled materials and low carbon steel in new floors, our take-back scheme, and our initiatives under Planet Passionate in three major areas: climate change, circularity, and the protection of the natural world.
Indeed, five years into our Planet Passionate journey, we are incredibly proud of the progress we have made so far in our Kingspan Data Solutions businesses, which incorporates our Tate brand. Explore our latest report to discover what’s been achieved and our 2025-2030 programme roadmap. Read the full report here.
We also provide the UK’s only free, verified, specification-advisory service entirely focused on raised access floor installations. Our team of design-led engineers can support you at all stages of the design/spec process, including providing accurate environmental and performance reporting.
As always, we will extend a warm welcome to all our partners who want to engage with us to help further the drive to lower our impact on the planet, and achieve a secure, safe and sustainable future for all.
Click here for more information on Deloitte’s Regional Crane Surveys.
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