Workloads in Cambridge and Norwich are good, but not spectacular. The market is healthy enough for contractor Fitzpatrick to set up an office to service Cambridge and Peterborough, and consultants in Cambridge reckon that workload is about 5% higher than last year. Stephen Bugg, a partner in Davis Langdon & Everest in Cambridge, says activity is matching last year鈥檚 high levels. Development driven by the university estates department and spin-off high-tech business parks is filtering through to housing and retail.

The Wellcome Trust鈥檚 拢100m Hinxton Science Park, which was refused planning permission last year can still be saved by John Prescott, while the 拢150m Cambourne Business Park is steaming ahead, with the University Superannuation Fund backing the 拢25m first phase. Local developer Start has turned entrepreneur and plans to build six 2800 m2 serviced industrial buildings 鈥� the industrial equivalent of Regus offices.

In Norwich, things are still busy, with more than 1000 workers on site at the Norfolk & Norwich PFI hospital. Mark Baxter, partner at Davis Langdon & Everest, says business is holding up in the city. And although the Norfolk & Norwich is a large project, tender prices are under control at 5% inflation.

Local contractors are busy. Social housing and commercial developments, including the continuing Riverside project in Norwich, are keeping the market buoyant, and an 拢8m scheme to extend the city鈥檚 Castle Museum is providing excitement.

East Anglia

The market round here is the same as last year. Cambridge University is still expanding and tender prices closely mirror London Stephen Bugg partner, Davis Langdon & Everest Our order books are up on last year and there are plans to redevelop sites like Nestl茅 Spokesman for contractor Sindall Key projects 拢214m Norfolk and Norwich Hospital 拢150m Cambourne business park Price of a pint 拢2 in Cambridge, 拢1.95 in Norwich Price of a three-bed semi 拢150 000 in Cambridge, 拢60 000 in Norwich

It's Sunny Up North