Housebuilding proved to be a fillip for the construction sector in January, but while the latest ONS output growth numbers showed an overall rise of 2.8% industry figures warned the turnaround could be temporary.

The Office for National Statistics reported that overall output grew by 2.8% in the first month of 2019, reversing the 2.8% decline seen in December 2018 and 1.8% higher in 2019 than the same month a year earlier.

Public new housing rose by 5%, data hailed as “very promising” by Mark Robinson, chief executive of framework firm Scape. Robinson said he hoped today’s Spring statement by the chancellor of the exchequer would enact an element of reform of the planning environment.