According to the latest forecast from the Construction Products Association (CPA), the construction industry will see growth of 19.0% by 2017.
The CPA's economics director, Noble Francis, said: 'Construction is set to enjoy growth over the next four years as it recovers from its worst recession in over 35 years. This is mainly due to private housing, which is experiencing a rapid rise, and infrastructure, which is seeing a more gradual return to positive territory.

'The private housing sector is being driven by recovery in the wider economy and the impacts of policies including Help to Buy, which have driven both house prices and house building. This is expected to lead to private house starts increasing 19.0% in 2013 and 15.0% in 2014, albeit from historic low levels of house building.'

He continued: 'Although rapid growth is predicted over the next 18 months, uncertainty remains around what will happen when the policies end, given that the housing market is unlikely to be self-sustaining by then.

'The infrastructure sector is recovering from a very difficult 2012, when output fell 12.7% despite numerous government announcements of 'boosts' to the sector. Government now appears, however, to be refocusing capital investment towards repairs and renewals.'

Mr Francis concluded: 'After suffering from an extremely tough market for over five years, and acting as a drag on UK economic activity, construction is set to grow every year between 2014 and 2017. This should provide a considerable boost to the wider economy.'