RIBA Future Trends index gives mixed picture
Architects are still feeling mixed about future workloads, with long-term uncertainties about Brexit and the economy dampening confidence levels.
The latest Future Trend survey from the RIBA showed that the index recovered slightly to post a score of +14 in July from the +10 recorded the month before.
But the RIBA warned practices in London were more pessimistic than those outside the capital with the Midlands and East Anglia returning a balance figure of +32.
Practices of all sizes remained positive but large practices, those with staff numbers of 51 or more, showed the most confidence at increasing future workloads, with a balance figure of +63.
Private housing was again the sector architects were most confident about with a score of +17 while optimism about public sector workloads recovered to +3.
RIBA executive director members Adrian Dobson said: 鈥淐ommentary from participating practices points to a steady outlook in the medium term but with more uncertainty over the long term. Some of [June鈥檚] pessimism seems to have lifted but signals remain mixed.鈥
Dobson said some firms had started to fret about developers slowing down work on larger residential schemes but added a number of practices were struggling to fill posts.
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