The latest ONS official statistics show the construction industry endured a difficult end to the winter period, even before the Covid-19 pandemic started to hit.
The ONS reports that the UK economy contracted in February even before coronavirus started to affect consumption, with the wet weather hitting construction output.
Construction was the worst-performing sector with a 1.7 per cent contraction as storms and heavy rains hampered work. February was the fifth-wettest calendar month since 1862, according to the Met Office.
The figures showed a 5.6% fall in private housing repair and maintenance in the three months to February 2020, the largest fall in this series since October 2012.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), said: “Repair and maintenance plummeted during a wet winter, and builders have not had the opportunity to revive workloads due to the coronavirus lockdown.
“They have been suffering due to conditions outside of their control, and further Government help is needed to get this important sector through the crisis.
“The Government must ramp up its support for builders by allowing Directors of small Limited companies to use their dividend payments in their Job Retention Scheme claims. A cash grant mechanism to get builders through this tough time should also be developed, and all financial schemes must come on line as soon as possible.”
