Skip count reveals northern construction activity

The skips are taken as indicators of small-scale construction projects. The RICS survey found that there had been four times as many skip licenses issued per capita between October 2012 and January 2014 in the northeast of England than there had been in the southeast.

The RICS ‘Skip Score’ looks at the number of skip licences issued per 100,000 people across the England and Wales, covering both residential and small-scale commercial developments. Local councils in England and Wales provided data on the number of skips licences between October 2012 and January 2014 to create an overview of SME construction activity.

However, skip licences are only required when the skip is placed on a public highway, so rich southerners with private driveways do not register in this survey.

Despite this shortcoming in the analysis, RICS director of built environment Alan Muse said the numbers still provided an interesting snapshot. “Skips are a very visible indicator of the health of small and independent construction firms and a good bellwether for the wider economy," he said.

"During the downturn many will have noticed a dip in the number of skips on our streets as households reigned in spending, but it is very clear that skips are back as consumer confidence returns. Our Skip Score shows where the hotspots are across the country, including some surprising results. The recovery is clearly not just confined to London, which is good news for this vital part of the construction industry and the wider rebalancing of the economy.”

RICS Skip Score results (Oct 12 – Jan 2014)

Top 10 London Boroughs

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