Construction output in Northern Ireland fell by 5.1 per cent in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, the latest official statistics show.
The decline follows a 15-year high recorded in the final quarter of 2024, when the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) recorded an activity index of 120.
Despite the quarter-on-quarter dip in output, Northern Ireland’s performance was still 3.6 per cent higher on a rolling annual basis since March 2024, NISRA revealed in figures published yesterday (26 June).
And total construction activity in Northern Ireland remained 15.5 per cent above its Q4 2019 pre-pandemic level, the statistics agency said.
New work accounted for 58.1 per cent of total output in the latest quarterly figures.
But output in this category fell by 7 per cent compared with Q4 2024 and decreased by 2.2 per cent since March last year.
Repair and maintenance output fell by 3.6 per cent over the quarter but increased by 12.7 per cent year-on-year.
This category has grown for four consecutive quarters and remains 115.6 per cent above its pandemic low in Q2 2020, according to NISRA.
The housing sector saw a 15.1 per cent decline in output over the quarter, ending four consecutive quarters of growth.
Despite the quarterly fall, housing output in Northern Ireland has grown by 4.1 per cent year-on-year on a rolling annual basis.
It remains 22.2 per cent below its peak in 2010, said NISRA.
Infrastructure was the only sector in Northern Ireland to see an improvement as output rose 4.2 per cent over the quarter, although it is down 2.5 per cent compared with Q1 2024.
This sector remained 2.5 per cent below its Q1 2024 peak and 80.8 per cent above its 15-year low in 2014.
Other work, including construction of schools, health centres and industrial buildings, declined by 0.6 per cent in the quarter but grew 8.3 per cent year-on-year.
Other work was 76.9 per cent above its pandemic low and had recorded 13 consecutive quarters of annual growth, said NISRA.
“The 5 per cent drop in overall Northern Ireland construction output during the first quarter is disappointing but perhaps not surprising,” said Allan Wilen, economics director at data intelligence provider Glenigan.
He cited the housing figures and noted that Glenigan recorded a 43 per cent drop in the value of housing projects starting on site last year.
“This scarcity of new sites will have fed through to the drop in housing output during the first quarter. While residential new-build output is likely to remain subdued near term, we expect an upturn in private housing project starts to help lift activity from next year,” Wilen added.