Downturn online: EAST OF ENGLAND

• Increase image
• View all images

A major slump in medical and scientific developments work is forecast in the East of England.

Glenigan figures show that the value of new starts for this year up to July stand at £95 million compared to the whole previous year's figure of £314 million. Planning approvals stand at £119 million for 2008 so far.

While social housing has fallen dramatically, private residential developments are forecast to escape the worst effects. The value of social housing starts for the seven months to July stand at £163 million compared to a total last year of £323 million.

That compares to private housing which Glenigan valued at £904 million last year and currently stands at £732 million with five months remaining.

Optimism has slumped in industrial developments. Glenigan shows that £358 worth of approvals were obtained in 2007 with £232 million worth of starts that year. For this year so far planning approvals in industrial stood at £163 million and the value of starts are valued at £83 million.

Education has fought of the worst of the slowdown with starts on site valued at £273 million this year compared to £406 million last year. Planning approvals so far are valued at £281 million.

The value of utility work has already overtaken the whole of 2007 at £170 million for the first seven months of 2008 compared to £112 million last year.