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The UK construction sector is facing a toxic mix of increasingly expensive building materials imported from the EU and the impact of a major skills 鈥榙rought鈥�, according to new research.

A report from procurement body Scape Group warns that, post-Brexit, the anticipated decline in construction workers migrating to the UK from Europe, together with the rapidly increasing price of imported construction materials could cost the sector millions.

Recent government data shows that 61.6% of imported building components and materials come from the EU, equating to a net total of 拢5.7bn, up from 拢4.9bn in 2015.

And since the government effectively ruled out the UK鈥檚 membership of the single market, the flow of migrant workers will likely be disrupted, Scape said.

鈥淭he skills crisis in construction is already at breaking point and [our] own research suggests a lack of workers with the necessary skillsets is negatively affecting the quality of projects, according to 85% of public sector managers,鈥� it said in a statement.

Matt Carrington-Moore, chief marketing officer at Scape Group, said: 鈥淭he construction sector is facing a toxic mix of issues which will inhibit its ability to deliver projects.

鈥淎ll of the evidence suggests that Brexit could trigger a significant decline in this country鈥檚 construction sector, and the impact that this has on UK PLC would be significant.鈥�