East of England construction market set to boom

Last Updated:

14th September 2023

The East of England is set for a construction boom, with a strong pipeline of projects due to start over the next 12 months.

Glenigan’s construction market intelligence shows that work is due to begin on 11,263 high-value projects (valued at £250,000 or more) in the East of England in the 12 months from August 2023.

Industrial plans

The region is benefitting from a surge in industrial work after the East of England was granted the status of a Freeport in March 2021.

A number of developers are planning and progressing major industrial schemes in the East of England including Curzon de Vere, Firethorn and Jaynic.

Jaynic continues to plan and build a number of units in the £244 million Suffolk Park logistics scheme near Bury St Edmunds (Project ID: 16393440). Glenigan’s industry research shows that construction work is expected to start this Autumn on a £23.7 million warehouse unit on the site (Project ID: 22304423).

CGI East of England Construction development of Port One Logistics Park

Curzon de Vere is also adding new units to its Port One Great Blakenham logistics park (pictured) near Ipswich (Project ID: 22310340). Work on seven more units is expected to commence in the New Year (Project ID: 22468857).

Out to tender

Major developments are moving through the procurement pipeline in a number of other key sectors.

Plans by First Base Homes for the £165 million Devonshire Gardens residential and commercial scheme in Cambridge have been put out to tender (Project ID: 18289807) with work due to get underway by the end of this year.

Other schemes in the East of England out to tender include the £46 million Long Stratton bypass on the A140 in Norwich being developed by Norfolk County Council (Project ID: 21344322). Bids have been returned and a start is scheduled for April 2024.

Biggest deal

The biggest scheme in the region due to start in the next 12 months is a £1.2 billion deal to build the road network north of the river for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing (Project ID: 22190541). Balfour Beatty is expected to begin work next spring.

In the pipeline

With a host of military bases in the region, the Ministry of Defence is a key client and is considering bids for a sizeable scheme nearby at RAF Wyton. Tenders have been invited via the CCS Framework (Project ID: 18043348) for a £30 million warehouse and office development known as a Programme to Rationalise and Integrate the Estate (PRIDE) (Project ID: 23218921) with work due to get going in February.

The University of Cambridge is another major client in the region and has a programme of work due to start in the next year. Hill Partnerships was recently signed up for a £60 million plan for 107 apartments at Eddington Avenue (Project ID: 16127355) and will begin work in the New Year.

With major clients developing a number of projects, the East of England’s pipeline looks strong.

Glenigan customers can see details of all new construction projects in the East of England if covered by your subscription.

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