GUEST ARTICLE: Leading professionals discuss the year ahead

The construction industry has operated under a sea of change in 2024. A historic General Election, technological advancements, such as the rise of AI, sweeping regulatory updates to building regulations and intensifying environmental concerns have fuelled a period of upheaval.

However, as we enter a new year, the sector shows no signs of slowing down with areas such as productivity, efficiency, quality and building safety remaining sharp focuses. So, what’s on the horizon for the year ahead? This guest article features the thoughts of leading experts from across the sector, sharing their insights on the key trends set to shape 2025…

Ben Hancock, Managing Director, Oscar Acoustics

“We predict that businesses will be investing heavily in retrofitting older buildings to comply with tightening EPC regulations. This trend offers asset and building owners an opportunity to make meaningful changes to the comfort and overall well-being that a space can deliver.

“Large-scale retrofitting won’t just help meet regulatory demands – it can help bring modern workspaces up to shape on a mass scale, transforming outdated offices into vibrant, future-ready spaces that align with the needs of today’s workforce.  This in turn will set their desirability higher than the competition, increasing occupancy rates and therefore the return on investment.”

Erik Boyter, CEO, WindowMaster

“Recent industry forecasting shows that the commercial property vertical will experience a modest uptick in 2025. However, overheads remain high and it’s unlikely this will change next year. As such, building owners and managers are looking for greater efficiencies within their assets to make better margins on their revenue.

“It’s this challenge that leads me to believe we’ll see significant growth in the alternative facilities solutions market, particularly for retrofit and refurbishment projects. 

“Ventilation is an essential service where pureplay mechanical solutions are still prolific. However, they’re expensive to run, resource intensive and require regular maintenance. From conversations I’ve had over the past 12 months, financially hard-pressed asset owners, landlords and FMs are quickly realising they can make significant savings if they switch to either smart hybrid or fully-natural solutions. 

“Why? The answer is simple: easier to install, less maintenance and lower operational energy. Sensor-backed and programmable, they only operate when they need to. Not only that, these systems can help meet increasingly stringent energy efficiency and air quality targets. Ultimately, it leaves much more profit in the pocket, which can be invested in other building improvements and upgrades.”

Tom Garrigan, Technical Director, BSRIA

“Retrofit remains the cornerstone of achieving net zero by 2050, yet there’s a clear disconnect in understanding its value. Our recent consumer survey revealed that 82% of homeowners don’t believe retrofitting their property will have an impact on net-zero goals, and only 6% even know their EPC rating. How can we expect consumers to invest in improvements when they’re unclear on the benefits or where to start?

“At the same time, industry professionals are far more confident – our survey of 500 specialists found two-thirds understand retrofit and its processes. But if we can’t bridge the knowledge gap with homeowners, we’ll struggle to deliver the scale of change required. Greater education around retrofit’s role and impact is essential.”

Fraser Robb, Managing Director, Perega

“There’s reason to be cheerful as we step into 2025. With the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill set to boost public sector building we’ll likely see a surge in project activity, providing plenty of work for civil and structural engineering firms, from transport and utilities to healthcare and education.

“These promising policies are to be welcomed, providing a much-needed boost for UK construction, after years of cut-backs, supply chain issues and labour shortages. Whilst these institutional problems persist, increased activity is exactly what we need to catalyse the improvement so urgently needed, from greater digital adoption, up-skilling professionals and reviving the labour market.”

“As a side note, the potential uptick from greater investment in 2025 will also encourage more innovation, especially from the private sector, as confidence returns to the market in line with higher levels of public works. This will help us explore new methods and approaches to design and specification, helping us achieve a leaner and cleaner built environment, future-proofing the industry and helping us meet wider goals including Net Zero 2050.”

Rob Norton, UK Director, PlanRadar 

“The construction industry’s next big leap lies in how it handles data. Fragmented communication across platforms has long slowed projects down and limited the potential of technologies like AI, BIM, and digital twins.

“One major trend in 2025 will be the adoption of connected systems where data flows seamlessly, ensuring teams work from the same up-to-date information. By breaking down silos, the industry can deliver greener, safer projects at lower costs while confidently navigating complex regulations.

“Alongside this, we’ll see a generation of more data-literate and digitally fluent professionals flourish, supported by forward-thinking firms investing in training programmes and smarter project management tools. By combining these advancements with better data management, the industry can lay the foundations for a more sustainable and efficient future.”