UK Construction Outlook 2025–2027: The Role of Construction Scheduling Services in Upcoming Project Pipelines Amid Falling Brick & Block Deliveries

The latest UK Government Construction Building Materials Commentary (November 2025) highlights sharp declines in key construction materials, particularly bricks and concrete blocks—two of the most essential components in UK residential development. At the same time, independent forecasts from Experian and the CPA point to a gradual but strengthening recovery in construction output from 2025 to 2027.

Addressing these challenges requires close collaboration across multiple disciplines within construction project management, ensuring that contract administration, planning, and delivery are aligned to mitigate risks associated with material shortages and rising demand.

For planners, schedulers, developers, and project managers, these two trends must be understood together: falling material supply today + increasing project demand tomorrow = heightened delivery risk. Navigating these trends demands a wealth of industry knowledge and expertise to ensure effective project outcomes.

This post breaks down what’s happening in the materials market, what the next three years are likely to look like, and what project teams must prepare for. We invite you to explore how these trends impact project planning and delivery.

1. Brick Deliveries Down 4.9%: Supply Pressures Continue

Brick deliveries fell 4.9% year-on-year, marking the second consecutive year of decline. Domestic production has been falling since 2022, and the UK now imports over 316 million bricks annually, accounting for nearly 20% of total brick supply.

Procurement lead times for bricks and other key materials remain a significant risk for construction projects. Accurate estimating is essential to account for fluctuating material costs and to ensure project budgets remain reliable despite market volatility.

• Early engagement with suppliers is crucial to secure allocations.

• Factoring in longer lead times during the planning phase can help avoid project delays.

Identifying potential supply chain bottlenecks early in the planning process enables proactive mitigation strategies and supports more robust construction scheduling services.

What this means for developers and planners

• Longer procurement lead times

• Greater risk of superstructure delays

• Increased dependence on European and overseas suppliers

• Higher likelihood of sequencing issues if masonry trades fall behind

• The importance of preparing comprehensive tender documents that reflect current material supply risks

Planners should incorporate realistic material-driven lead times and expand risk allowances within Primavera P6 programmes.

2. Concrete Block Deliveries Down 7.1%: Impact on the Housing Market

Concrete block deliveries dropped 7.1% year-on-year, mirroring reduced activity in new housing starts and private development.

Material shortages like these can significantly impact the bid process, making it more challenging for contractors to accurately price and plan tenders, which in turn affects their ability to secure new projects.

In a market with reduced activity and increased competition, strategic planning and robust construction scheduling services are essential to secure future contracts and maintain a competitive edge.

Project controls implications

• Possible pricing pressure if demand rebounds faster than supply

• Suppliers may prioritise larger contractors or long-term frameworks

• Stronger coordination and control required between procurement, site teams, and planners to manage supply chain risks effectively. Robust control is essential for monitoring, analyzing, and keeping projects on track to meet time, cost, and quality objectives.

• Well-defined processes, including structured workflows and methodologies, support effective project controls and enable proactive management of project activities throughout the lifecycle. Project controls are important because they provide structured oversight, monitor variances, and facilitate timely decision-making to ensure successful project delivery.

At B Project, we integrate these material risks directly into programme logic—ensuring milestones, sequencing, and resource plans reflect realistic supply conditions.

3. Construction Sector Forecast 2025–2027: Growth Is Returning

Despite short-term material pressures, the next three years show a positive outlook:

Specialized construction scheduling services are available to help clients navigate the changing market and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

We also offer support to clients in adapting to new growth opportunities, ensuring they are well-positioned to succeed in a dynamic construction sector.

Total Construction Output

• +1.9% in 2025

• +2.8% in 2026

• +4.2% in 2027

This marks a recovery from the declines of 2022–2023. A focused strategy is essential to effectively manage the increased construction activity, ensuring that project objectives are met and risks are controlled.

Housing: Slow Recovery, Strong 2027 Surge

• +2.1% in 2025

• +4.9% in 2026

• +8.8% in 2027

A strong rebound in 2027 is expected as demand stabilises, mortgage conditions improve, and developers restart delayed projects.

Creating robust project plans and schedules will be essential for construction firms to capitalise on the housing market rebound and ensure successful project delivery.

Infrastructure: A Consistent Growth Engine

• +3.9% in 2025

• Continued investment in energy, renewables, and public-sector work

Infrastructure will remain a key driver even if commercial activity stays subdued. Developed project plans and visualisation tools play a crucial role in supporting infrastructure growth by enhancing project understanding and collaboration throughout the construction lifecycle.

4. What Project Teams Must Prepare For

When combining the current fall in material availability with the expected rise in workloads, several challenges emerge. Enabling effective collaboration between project teams is essential to address supply and demand challenges and to develop robust programmes that align with both client and contractor needs. A clear understanding of project requirements and risks is more important than ever in the current environment, as it underpins successful project controls, risk management, and communication.

1. Tighter Labour & Supply Chain Availability

As demand picks up, supply chains already weakened by 2024–2025 declines may become stretched.

2. Increased Pressure on Procurement Timelines

Materials such as bricks, blocks, aggregates, and concrete may experience:

• Longer lead times

• Regional shortages

• Price volatility

3. More Complex Sequencing & Phasing

Ramping up activity after two years of slowdown will require robust, logic-driven scheduling—not just planning by dates.

4. Higher Risk of Project Delays

Demand recovery + supply fragility = greater uncertainty in early works and superstructure phases.

This is where strong project controls, realistic forecasting, and proactive schedule monitoring become essential.

5. Case Studies: Lessons from Recent Project Pipelines

In today’s construction industry, the ability to deliver projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards is more critical than ever. At B Project Ltd, we believe that real-world case studies are the best way to demonstrate the tangible value of robust project management, effective project controls, and a proactive approach to risk and scheduling planning.

Our extensive experience spans a wide range of sectors, from commercial development to complex infrastructure and public sector projects across the UK. Each project presents unique challenges, but our team of specialists consistently applies a comprehensive set of strategies—tailored to the project scope and client objectives—to ensure success at every stage of the project life cycle.

Case Study: Delivering Value Through Proactive Project Controls

One recent example involved supporting a major commercial development in the UK, where our team was engaged from the outset to oversee project planning, tender requirements, and contract administration. By integrating advanced scheduling planning and project controls, we enabled the client to monitor progress in real time, identify potential risks early, and implement cost-saving strategies without compromising on quality or programme.

Our project managers worked closely with the contractor and client teams to coordinate resources, manage budgets, and ensure that all tender planning and contract requirements were met. Through detailed data analysis and scenario modelling, we were able to demonstrate the impact of different scheduling and procurement strategies, helping the client make informed decisions that secured both time and money savings.

Throughout the construction process, our proactive approach to project controls proved essential in managing change, mitigating risks, and maintaining a clear vision of the project’s objectives. By focusing on detail and maintaining open communication, we ensured that the project was delivered on schedule, within budget, and to the client’s exacting standards.

Why Project Controls Are Essential for Future Success

These case studies highlight the importance of having a dedicated project controller and a team with extensive experience in project management, contract administration, and scheduling planning. In an industry where supply chain volatility and shifting market conditions can impact every stage of the project life cycle, having a partner who can provide expert advice, monitor progress, and adapt strategies is invaluable.

5. How B Project Supports Clients During This Shift

At B Project, we help clients prepare for these conditions through:

• Detailed planning & scheduling using Primavera P6

• Material-driven risk assessments

• Scenario modelling and what-if analysis

• Delay analysis and programme recovery strategies

• Resource and sequencing optimisation

• Data-driven project controls and reporting

As the UK construction market moves into a new cycle of growth, having a resilient, forward-looking programme will be key to delivering on time and within budget.