As I look back on the fourth quarter of 2022 and the preceding nine months, our sector remained resilient in what was a turbulent year. Although December’s output was estimated to be flat in volume terms, quarterly construction output increased 0.3% in Q4 2022 compared with Q3, with the increase coming from growth in both new work (0.4%) and repair and maintenance (0.1%). Annual construction output increased by 5.6% in 2022 compared with 2021. However, economic headwinds, such as an expected recession, started to bite during quarter four.

It will undoubtedly be a slower start to 2023 but I share the more positive sentiments recently highlighted by executives responding to the latest McKinsey Global Survey on economic conditions. Respondents were less pessimistic at the end of the year versus the previous two quarters and identified a more predictable and improving economic environment as we move through the year.

Finishing on more positive notes, I witnessed many amazing brick projects at the Brick Awards 2022 in November. Seventeen worthy winners were announced, five of which were built using Wienerberger products, and including winning a clean sweep of the housing development project awards. They were for the Small Housing Development in Dunmurry, Belfast, the Medium Housing Development in Crosby, Liverpool, and the Large Housing Development in the Leamouth Peninsula, London.

We’ll continue to see new modern construction, refurbishment and retrofit using clay bricks, roof tiles, innovative products and services that help the industry meet changing building regulations and the Future Homes Standard.