Expenditure in the civil engineering sector is expected to fall within three years, according to a report by Market & Business Development.
The analyst predicts that spending will grow 3% this year and 4% in 2004, but will fall 1% in real terms in 2006, followed by a 2% reduction in 2007.

Civil engineers are expected to be hit by a decline in spending in the electricity market. MBD predicts that output will fall 5% between 2003 and 2007 to £430m.

In contrast, the sewerage market is expected to increase 7% in 2003, although this is then likely to fall as 2007 approaches.

The MBD report added that it expected some growth in the gas and communications sectors.

Between 1998 and 2002 expenditure increased in the civil engineering sector as a whole. This was largely boosted by government spending on road and rail infrastructure.