Figures issued by the Construction Products Association indicate that construction output is forecast to increase by more than 5% in 2015, fit out and finishing specialist Lucas is looking forward to a promising year ahead.

Even more encouraging forecasts are given with commercial office construction, which could be 8% in 2015, and 25% by 2018.

In its annual forecast report, the CPA states that activity in the commercial offices sector, which is still 39.5% below the pre-recession peak, is forecast to grow 7.0% in 2016 and 5.0% in 2017.

Growth in total construction output is expected to slow to 4.2% in 2015 and 3.4% in 2016. The industry, says the report, also has concerns regarding capacity constraints in the medium-term.

Whilst output in the sector during 2014 was 8.5% below the level seen in 2007, the report says, overall capacity last year was not a key issue. However, construction output is forecast to surpass the pre-recession peak during the next 18 months, this despite the industry having lost 343,000 jobs and considerable materials capacity in the seven years following the financial crisis.

Dr. Nobel Francis, Economics Director of the Association, says: “As a result, it is essential that there is significant investment in UK construction skills and manufacturing over the next few years if the growth forecast is to be achieved.”

Investment has been at the forefront of the Lucas business model. As Managing Director Danny Lucas states: “Our business strategy over the decades has brought us significant growth, and our investment in people, technology and product development has put us at the forefront of the fit out and finishing sector. We are more than ready for any forecast growth in the construction sector, and look forward to the challenges it might bring.”

Lucas is ideally placed to meet this growth with its extensive portfolio of products and services to ensure prestigious projects are not let down.

Over many years Lucas has built up a wealth of experience – from low-rise, low key structures to high rise landmark buildings.

With Lucas, the emphasis is on quality – in materials, project management, and work standards. The company prides itself on providing solutions to whatever the challenge might be ... access restrictions, planning constraints, tight deadlines, even colour matching difficulties.

,p>Contract managers are based on site to ensure effective, immediate, control of a project, and a dedicated logistics operation ensures that materials are carefully sequenced to minimise the use of precious space and working movements between floors.

The encouraging figures from the CPA combined with the Lucas philosophy that exceptional quality is an essential in all aspects of the business, bode well for the future.