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March has arrived with little sign of the UK’s bad weather easing its grip on the construction industry. Since the start of 2026, persistent rain and saturated ground conditions have tested project timelines across the UK. Not only have sites faced delays through the ongoing lack of demand, but also due to the simple fact that construction still answers to the UK’s inclement climate – an issue that is likely to become even more significant as our climate grows wetter in the coming years. Groundworks have stalled, roofing programmes have shifted, and logistics have become more complicated as access routes and storage areas struggle to cope with the conditions.
Yet construction rarely stands still for long, and there are green shoots on the horizon with increased housing starts, albeit from a low base. This month’s issue reflects a sector that continues to plan, design and build for the long term, even though the current economy feels challenging.
Our Housing feature looks at delivery across a market that remains under pressure to increase supply while balancing cost, compliance and sustainability targets. In examining the Hospitals and Healthcare sector, we explore how estates teams and project leads are approaching the need for decarbonisation while keeping resilience and patient wellbeing front of mind. These are projects where performance, longevity and whole-life value carry real weight.
The Roofing and Cladding feature, meanwhile, feels particularly timely given the weather we have endured in recent weeks. Keeping buildings watertight and robust against harsh conditions is a daily concern on live sites across the country. Alongside this, modern Kitchens, Bathrooms and Wetrooms continue to evolve in both residential and care settings, where durability and hygiene standards are under ongoing scrutiny.
ARBOSHIELD Pro from CARLISLE Construction Materials is a high-performance air and vapour control layer designed to combine Class A2-s1,d0 reaction to fire classification with high tensile strength and enhanced thermal performance. See page 12 for more information.