Prices rising faster for M&E subcontractors vs other trades

A survey of over 150 subcontractors released by Southern Construction Framework reveals that build costs for the M&E sector rose 7% in the second quarter compared to the previous year, with specialist M&E subcontractor prices rising faster than all other trades despite a slowdown in overall construction activity.

As reported in Construction Enquirer, the survey, which mainly covers public sector work in the south of England also blames increasingly complex specifications for upward cost pressure.

Changes driven by stringent environmental and quality requirements are adding to the complexity of M&E solutions.

Supply chains are seeing a rise in the use of PV, air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, and mechanical ventilation, all driving the complexity of M&E solutions in which the changes have knock-on effects.

The report also found that despite a decrease in official construction output figures, tender workloads actually increased by 3.8% in the second quarter of 2024, when compared to the previous quarter.

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