黑洞社区

Scottish construction confidence has taken a dive after the SNP government鈥檚 controversial spending review last month.

Industry confidence north of the border fell 13 points during the last quarter to -19, after three successive quarters of recovering confidence, according to the survey by the Scottish 黑洞社区 Federation (SBF).

SBF chief executive Michael Levack blamed the SNP鈥檚 spending review for the drop in optimism, which includes policies such as a hike in business rates to raise 拢850m over the next three years.

Levack added builders were worried about the Scottish government鈥檚 commitment to capital spending, despite the SNP鈥檚 pledge to 鈥渟queeze every penny out of every pound to inject鈥� in new infrastructure鈥�. The country faces a 36.7% cut in its capital budget in real terms under the UK-wide spending review.

Only 19% of Scottish builders said they were more confident about their business prospects over the next year, down from 30% the previous quarter.

Levack said: 鈥淔ollowing successive quarters when industry confidence appeared to be gradually recovering, this latest survey shows confidence now heading back into reverse.

鈥淚 believe this must be a symptom of the significant cuts to public capital spending now confirmed by the Scottish government鈥檚 spending review, combined with continued sluggish performance in the private sector.鈥�