Transport infrastructure hit by Brexit, as construction work plummets in July

The total value of infrastructure contracts fell by more than a fifth in the month after the U.K voted to leave the European Union, according to new figures.

Barbour ABI, the construction consultancy that provides data to the Office of National Statistics, said that there was only a total of £1.5bn of infrastructure contracts in July, 20.4% lower than the previous month, and 23% lower than in July 2015. Transport infrastructure made up a smaller percentage of the total than previously at 31%, or £465m, behind utilities work.

Network Rail, Transport for London and Highways England remained in the top ten clients, with Thames Water the number one. More than a third of all July's construction contracts were in London, and nearly half in London and South East England.

The announcement led to commentators saying that Brexit was leading to projects being delayed due to private investor decisions, and there were calls for more direct investment so that infrastructure schemes was not derailed.