With 2025 now a memory and the focus having switched to the year ahead, in this series of articles we’ve sourced the viewpoint of various leading industry figures. This time we’ve sought the input of individuals from Westfield Health, Peri UK, Magna, Onduline Building Products, and Story Homes North-East, to gather their opinions on how the last 12 months have been for construction and to get their predictions for 2026.
Mark Hamson, Managing Director of Westfield Health:
“This year, we recorded a 6% increase in health cash plan claims among construction workers. Although a significant proportion of these related to dental and optical appointments – up 3% and 2% respectively – the most notable rise was in therapy claims, which increased by 10%. These therapies include osteopathy, physiotherapy, and chiropractic treatment.
“Construction roles are physically intensive, and the sector has long faced persistent challenges around workers’ health. However, long NHS waiting lists have further exacerbated the issue, with nearly two thirds of manual workers saying it’s become harder to get a health appointment, based on our 2025 report.
“We expect this trend to continue into 2026. With the recently announced Autumn budget plans citing the need for 250 new Neighbourhood Health Centres, the government has shown that they recognise the imbalance around healthcare access at the moment. This will make employer-led access to preventative healthcare services even more important, as well support for ongoing treatments through benefits like private health insurance. Going into 2026, construction firms need to recognise the demand for everyday preventative services in the industry. This type of workplace benefit provides practical support that workers really value, so it not only improves their wellbeing — it can also encourage greater productivity and improve retention.”
Ian Hayes, Managing Director of PERI UK:
“As we look back on 2025, for PERI UK, we have seen a strong mix of activity across all sectors although the impact of Gateway 2 planning requests slowed the market in H2. Our involvement in complex works, such as hydraulically climbing cores and tunnels and bridges for HS2, exemplified both the opportunity within infrastructure and the demand for technical excellence in formwork, climbing, and scaffold systems.
“This year, we have seen increasingly confined construction sites accelerating the shift toward prefabrication and pre-assembly – for example, of our RCS platforms and LPS screens – to help minimise site congestion and enhance safety in construction around the UK. At the same time, the development of innovative solutions such as the RCS MAX Shaft system has supported our customers for safely and efficiently constructing concrete cores, minimising crane time.
“We’ve also seen a growing pipeline of work in the water and wastewater sectors, where long-term asset upgrades are driving demand for robust, adaptable formwork solutions. Efficiency pressures have led more clients to specify waterproofing alongside formwork packages, enabling PERI UK to operate as a streamlined one-stop shop.
“Beyond projects, PERI has continued its push for industry skills development and expanded our formwork training initiatives, as we continue to underline the importance of investing in people as well as technology. Today, thanks to the hard work and determination of key members of PERI UK, we are the only formwork supplier in the UK to offer accredited formwork and falsework qualifications through an official awarding body.
“With this in mind, and the confidence we have in the strength of the team, we’re looking ahead to a positive 2026. Following the recent Gateway 2 planning approvals and continued development across the energy, infrastructure and wider sectors, we expect an exciting market supported by innovation, collaboration and a renewed commitment to building smarter and safer.”
Paul Read, Director of Sustainability and Investment at Magna:
“2025 has been a year of progress and adaptation across the sector and as I look back, I am particularly proud of the strides we have made at Magna. We achieved a 320 per cent increase in schemes on site compared to 2024, and in early 2026, our hundredth retrofitted home will be complete. These are not just numbers; they are customers’ homes, reflecting a real boost in construction and investment in existing homes.
“While there are competing investment priorities between new homes and existing homes for landlords, we see common purpose in increasing housing supply and endorse the ambition for 1.5m new homes and the aims of the Social and Affordable Homes Programme to increase delivery of social rented homes.
“2025 has certainly seen lingering effects of the pandemic, felt through commercial pressures on the construction sector and intense pressure on the SME builders we desperately need to nurture to grow.
“We’ve learned the importance of adapting our approach. Our projects focus on rural and market towns in Dorset and Somerset, using modern factory-based building techniques like modular or panelised homes that suit their places and people. I’m particularly pleased with our progress in improving existing homes, bridging the gap with new builds, and ensuring no one is left behind.
“Securing new funding has bolstered our plans, giving us the confidence to set our sights on delivering 300 homes a year as well as investing in our existing homes. But meeting these goals requires both financial resilience for organisations and a genuine commitment to supporting those who need homes most.
“Looking to 2026, I am optimistic. If we keep adapting, invest in new skills and technology and stay true to our values, I believe we can continue delivering better and greener homes for all who need them.”
Paul Duffy, Managing Director of Onduline Building Products:
“The UK roofing and construction sectors faced another challenging year in 2025, particularly across commercial and non-residential construction. Slow new project starts, higher business taxation, building regulation delays and persistent labour shortages continued to affect timelines and investment confidence across the building envelope and roofing supply chain. Multiple commercial categories, including offices, retail and industrial, saw reduced activity throughout the year as developers paused decision-making and funding constraints delayed projects.
“Yet the resilience of the sector remained clear. Commercial refurbishment and maintenance continued to provide consistent opportunity, driven by ageing public and private building stock, tightening energy performance standards and increased emphasis on extending the lifespan of existing assets. Sustainable and technology-led roofing specification expanded further, including solar-ready roofing, sub-roof solutions and higher performing insulation systems that support long-term operational efficiency and compliance.
“While some segments were slowed by cost pressures and programme delays, the longer-term pipeline remains encouraging. The Glenigan Construction Industry Forecast indicates a significant return to activity across commercial, public sector and infrastructure projects. Civil engineering and infrastructure output is forecast to grow strongly, with a 17% increase expected in 2026 and a further 15% in 2027, driven by greater investment in utilities, road and rail networks, renewable energy and water infrastructure.
“Industrial and logistics construction is also expected to strengthen as online retailing and planning reforms create additional demand. Public sector capital spending is forecast to pick up from mid-2026, with increased investment across health and education estates.
“Residential markets are projected to recover at a steady pace, with private housing starts forecast to increase by 6% in 2026 and 18% in 2027, and social housing development rising in parallel. Taken together, these trends point towards a healthier construction landscape and a more stable outlook for the roofing industry.
“As we move into 2026, market conditions are expected to improve. Lower inflation, easing interest rates, resumed public investment and the release of postponed development pipelines are forecast to create a more active construction environment. For roofing contractors, this is likely to result in increasing tender volumes across commercial property, warehousing, logistics and education projects, alongside a continued rise in reroofing and refurbishment work as building owners prioritise extending asset life rather than new build.
“Contractors are also likely to see a growing focus on energy efficiency, building performance and specification-led systems. Roofing projects will continue to be closely tied to wider carbon-reduction and operational-cost strategies, placing greater importance on materials innovation and long-term performance. At the same time, higher demand for sub-roof solutions, solar-compatible roofing, hybrid waterproofing systems and modular installation approaches will continue as clients look for solutions that accelerate build programmes and mitigate the impact of labour shortages.
“Despite short-term pressure points, the commercial and infrastructure markets remain the strongest source of opportunity for roofing firms. The sector heads into 2026 with stronger market fundamentals, a healthier pipeline and growing confidence across the construction industry, setting the stage for a more buoyant period for contractors and suppliers alike.”
Mark Ferguson, Operations Director for Story Homes North-East:
“Looking back over 2025, it’s clear that the UK construction sector has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience and adaptability in the face of ongoing challenges, including volatile market conditions, rising material costs, and fluctuations in consumer confidence. At Story Homes, we’ve seen the industry work hard to navigate economic uncertainties and evolving regulatory requirements and maintain momentum in housing delivery.
“Looking ahead to 2026, our hope is for greater alignment between policymakers, local authorities, and developers to unlock new opportunities and drive growth. We also anticipate further advancements in energy efficiency and low-carbon solutions, driven by both regulation and increasing consumer expectations.
“Sustainability is central to our culture, processes, and the homes we build. We are striving towards meeting the Future Homes Standard, aiming for a 75% reduction in carbon emissions compared to 2013 levels. This commitment not only supports the national drive to net zero but also reflects growing consumer expectations for energy-efficient, environmentally responsible homes.
“Ultimately, our focus remains on building much-needed homes and developments that combine high standards of quality and design with long-term sustainability, and we believe the industry is well-positioned to deliver this with the right support and collaboration.”