A boost for the UK building industry could come with the news that some companies in the sector are seeing improvements.
That is the opinion of Gavin Smart, research and futures assistant director at the National Housing Federation, who noted that housing associations are increasing the amount of homes being constructed.
Builder Persimmon, in its half-yearly report released this week, announced that values are stabilising across the UK.
And Mr Smart suggested that increased government investment in affordable housing is likely to contribute to further improvement in the coming months.
"We hope … that housing associations can do even more to deliver decent homes and help support the economy, including the construction sector," he said.
Earlier this year, ministers announced that £1.5 billion is to be invested over the next two years, with the Building Britain's Future plan aiming to create 45,000 new jobs through the construction of 20,000 energy-efficient and affordable homes.
