Balanced view over Brexit

While Brexit divided a nation, Hueck UK wanted to find out what architects and specifiers feel about this issue and others affecting their sector, and it found that just over half (52%) of architects said they see Brexit as a challenge for their sector. Only 12% saw it as an opportunity.

Hueck commissioned Insight Data to carry out the survey, which asked more than 14,000 architects a series of questions about their expectations for the year ahead.

When asked what the biggest challenge they will face in 2017 will be, 52% of architects said rising costs of materials, while only 28% referred to free movement of labour and finding skilled professionals.

Similarly, when architects were asked how they thought the UK architectural sector will perform in 2017, compared to 2016. 52% said it will fare worse in 2017, while 48% said it would be the same or better.

Despite warnings of a dip in construction output, architects are expecting an increase in projects in 2017 though, according to the survey. When asked if they expected to see an increase in projects in the geographical area they cover, more than half (56%) said yes.

Overall, when respondents were asked how confident they are of the future, 72% were somewhat or very confident, while only 28% were not very confident at all.

Leon Friend, director at Hueck, said: “What the survey shows us is that although there are some concerns, the economy and confidence is generally holding up. Obviously, Article 50 hasn’t been triggered yet but the findings of our survey chime with the recent economic growth forecasts from the Bank of England, which have been revised upwards.”