{"id":49850,"date":"2026-01-19T13:11:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:11:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/press-releases\/aecom-calls-for-planning-reform-agreement-of-multi-annual-budgets-and-delivery-readiness-as-northern-ireland-construction-output-hits-15-year-high\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T08:11:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:11:35","slug":"aecom-calls-for-planning-reform-agreement-of-multi-annual-budgets-and-delivery-readiness-as-northern-ireland-construction-output-hits-15-year-high","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/press-releases\/aecom-calls-for-planning-reform-agreement-of-multi-annual-budgets-and-delivery-readiness-as-northern-ireland-construction-output-hits-15-year-high\/","title":{"rendered":"ArchTam calls for planning reform,\u00a0agreement of\u00a0multi-annual budgets and delivery \u2018readiness\u2019 as Northern Ireland construction output hits 15-year high\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>ArchTam\u2019s\u202f<em>Ireland Annual Review 2026<\/em>, launched today,\u00a0highlights:\u202f<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Northern Ireland\u2019s\u202fconstruction output rose 7.3 per cent\u202fon the year to June\u202f2025,\u202freaching a 15-year high in Q2,\u202foutperforming\u202fthe rest of the United Kingdom.\u202f<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Costs have\u202fstabilised\u202fas tender price inflation flattened\u202fat\u00a03 per cent\u202fand supply chains matured, though\u202flabour\u202fcosts rose by 5.5\u202fper cent.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Housing output increased by 25.9 per cent over the year, but wastewater infrastructure\u202fremains\u202fthe key barrier to unlocking planned growth and meeting long-term need.\u202f<\/strong>\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BELFAST\u00a0<\/strong>(January\u202f19,\u202f2026)<strong>\u202f<\/strong>\u2014<strong><em>\u202f<\/em><\/strong>Northern Ireland is entering 2026 with its strongest construction performance in a decade and a half, according to the latest findings from ArchTam, the trusted global infrastructure leader,\u00a0operating\u00a0across the island of Ireland for more than 165 years.\u00a0\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u202forganisation\u2019s\u202fnewly released\u202f<em>Ireland Annual Review 2026,<\/em>&nbsp;now in its 51<sup>st<\/sup>&nbsp;year,<em>\u202f<\/em>notes that construction output rose 7.3 per cent in the year to June 2025, reaching its highest level since 2010 and\u202foutperforming\u202fthe rest of the U.K. at 2.2\u202fper cent.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\u202fReview\u202fobserves\u202fthat the return of political stability in 2024 helped restore confidence and unlock stalled plans, providing the platform for the\u202fconstruction\u202fsector\u2019s\u202fstrong rebound.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now in its 51st year,\u202fthe Review\u202freveals&nbsp;activity is being driven in part by exceptionally strong repair and maintenance performance, now 55.8 per cent above pre-pandemic levels, alongside a 25.9 per cent increase in housing output, which accounted for more than a third of total activity in Q2 2025.\u202f\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, only one new social housing start was recorded over the year, far below what is&nbsp;required&nbsp;to meet long-term needs. With more than 49,000 households on waiting lists and wastewater constraints blocking new development in Belfast, Newry and Derry-Londonderry, the Review stresses that Northern Ireland cannot deliver on its 15-year housing strategy without systemic infrastructure reform.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Review argues that Northern Ireland needs clearer long-term funding, more collaborative delivery models, earlier supply-chain involvement, stronger public-sector capacity alongside a reimagining of public-private partnerships, and faster planning and consenting processes. These priorities match the wider all-island focus on creating systems that can turn investment into results.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It adds&nbsp;that Northern Ireland stands to&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from the finalised Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland 2050, which will build on the U.K.\u2019s 10-year Infrastructure Strategy, but without greater readiness, it may struggle to turn this long-term investment into real outcomes. A clear roadmap will help unlock investment, accelerate&nbsp;progress&nbsp;and strengthen communities across the country.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNorthern Ireland enters 2026 from a position of real strength, with output, sentiment and sector performance all moving in the right direction. We have the ambition and the momentum, but delivery now depends on readiness,\u201d said Nick Perrin,&nbsp;Head of&nbsp;Infrastructure,&nbsp;Surface&nbsp;Transportation,&nbsp;Aviation and&nbsp;Ports, U.K. &amp; Ireland, at\u202fArchTam.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c2026 must be a year of delivery readiness. Strong investment and renewed political clarity provide the foundation, but readiness\u202fprovides\u202fthe capability. Northern Ireland\u2019s potential for growth is significant, and it must seize this dynamic moment and make the most of the opportunities ahead.\u201d\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across both&nbsp;jurisdictions, ArchTam&nbsp;identifies&nbsp;\u2018readiness\u2019&nbsp;as the critical enabler of faster, more consistent delivery. Defined as \u2018strategic preparation\u2019,&nbsp;readiness encompasses an&nbsp;organisation&#8217;s&nbsp;internal capability, such as having the right skills,&nbsp;systems&nbsp;and governance in place, as well as external factors like selecting&nbsp;appropriate procurement&nbsp;strategies and the provision of pipeline certainty to aid workforce attraction and retention. ArchTam argues that achieving readiness will be key to managing constraints, accelerating&nbsp;timelines&nbsp;and delivering the outcomes the island of Ireland urgently requires.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The report also shows&nbsp;that costs have largely\u202fstabilised, with material prices flat and\u202flabour\u202fcosts increasing\u202f5.5\u202fper cent due to intense regional competition for skills. New work\u202fremains\u202f7\u202fper cent above pre-pandemic levels, and private non-housing is expected to be one of the fastest-growing sub-sectors into 2026, aligning with wider trends across\u202fthe island of\u202fIreland.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wastewater infrastructure\u202fremains\u202fthe single biggest constraint on housing\u202fdelivery,\u202fwhile planning and regulatory delays continue to\u202fslow\u202fthe progress of essential infrastructure. Public-sector and supply-chain resource shortages further limit delivery pace, and short-term budgeting cycles make it difficult to plan and commit to long-term capital\u202fprogrammes\u202fwith confidence.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite fiscal pressures, the public sector continued to deliver new community assets throughout 2025. Major projects advanced during the year include the \u00a370 million Fermanagh Lakeland Forum, set to become Northern Ireland\u2019s first ultra-energy-efficient leisure facility; the \u00a3100 million Belfast Stories cultural and tourism destination; the \u00a3671 million Children\u2019s Hospital at the\u202fRoyal Victoria Hospital; and Ulster University\u2019s Sports Air Dome, an all-island shared space initiative.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead,\u202fthe\u202fConstruction Industry Training Board\u202f(CITB)\u202fforecasts Northern Ireland\u2019s construction output to grow by 2.8 per cent in 2026, ahead of the U.K.\u2019s 2.3 per cent. Growth is expected to be led by repair and maintenance, rising 5.1 per cent, while new work is projected to increase by 1.4 per cent, supported by stronger gains in private non-housing (5.5 per cent) and infrastructure (4.2 per cent).\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ArchTam concludes that while the foundations for growth are strong, the pace at which Northern Ireland can deliver homes, water infrastructure, energy\u202fsystems\u202fand transport improvements will now depend on system-wide readiness across the public sector and supply chain.\u202f&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The full report is available here<\/strong>:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aecom.com\/ireland-annual-review\/\">https:\/\/publications.aecom.com\/ireland-annual-review\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:17px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/content\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/PEYE-111225KB2-0063_Web-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Nick Perrin,\u00a0Head of\u00a0Infrastructure,\u00a0Surface\u00a0Transportation,\u00a0Aviation and\u00a0Ports, U.K. &amp; Ireland, at\u202fArchTam.\" class=\"wp-image-188475\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Nick Perrin,\u00a0Head of\u00a0Infrastructure,\u00a0Surface\u00a0Transportation,\u00a0Aviation and\u00a0Ports, U.K. &amp; Ireland,\u202fArchTam.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:3px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About ArchTam\u202f<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ArchTam is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients\u2019 complex challenges in water, environment, energy,&nbsp;transportation&nbsp;and buildings. Our&nbsp;teams&nbsp;partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative,&nbsp;sustainable&nbsp;and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle \u2013 from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. ArchTam is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025.&nbsp;Learn more at&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">www.archtam.com<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-49850","press-release","type-press-release","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/49850","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/49850\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":49851,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/49850\/revisions\/49851"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49850"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.archtam.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=49850"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}