Northern Ireland construction output rises to 15-year high, AECOM report finds

Construction output in Northern Ireland rose by 7.3% in the year to June 2025, reaching its highest level since 2010 and outperforming the rest of the UK, according to AECOM’s 51st annual construction review.

Repair and maintenance work is now 55.8% above pre-pandemic levels, while housing output increased by 25.9%, accounting for more than a third of total activity in the second quarter of 2025. New work overall remains 7% above pre-pandemic levels, with private non-housing expected to be one of the fastest-growing sub-sectors into 2026.

“Northern Ireland enters 2026 from a position of real strength, with output, sentiment and sector performance all moving in the right direction,” said Nick Perrin, head of infrastructure, surface transportation, aviation and ports (UK & Ireland) at AECOM.

The review identifies systemic infrastructure issues as the main constraint on growth. Only one new social housing start was recorded over the year, while more than 49,000 households remain on waiting lists and wastewater constraints block development in Belfast, Newry, and Derry.

AECOM recommends clearer long-term funding, more collaborative delivery models, earlier supply-chain involvement, strengthened public-sector capacity, reimagined public-private partnerships, and faster planning and consenting processes to unlock Northern Ireland’s full construction potential.

Major projects advanced during 2025 include the £70 million Fermanagh Lakeland Forum leisure facility, the £100 million Belfast Stories cultural and tourism destination, the £671 million Children’s Hospital at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and Ulster University’s Sports Air Dome.

The Construction Industry Training Board forecasts Northern Ireland’s construction output to grow 2.8% in 2026, led by repair and maintenance (5.1%) and supported by private non-housing (5.5%) and infrastructure (4.2%).

Explore the full AECOM review for detailed sector insights and project forecasts in the complete story.

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