02/04/2026
📸 Why Building in Britain Keeps Getting More Expensive (And What It Means for Your Project)
If you’ve had a quote recently and the number made you blink twice, you’re not alone.
Build costs across Surrey, Sussex, and Kent have risen sharply over the past four years. Most people expected them to fall. They haven’t. And if you’re planning a project in the next 12–24 months, understanding why is essential.
Here’s the honest version.
It started with a pandemic. But it didn’t end there.
Supply chains collapsed in 2020–21. Timber, shipping, materials — everything went haywire while demand for home improvements exploded. Many assumed prices would correct quickly. Some did. Most didn’t.
What began as a temporary shock has now become structural: soaring energy costs, labour shortages, tighter regulations, and stubborn inflation. These pressures aren’t disappearing overnight.
The actual numbers 🧱
Here’s what contractors are paying today in the South East:
• Facing brick: £700–£1,100 per 1,000 (up ~40% since 2020)
• Structural timber: £350–£550 per m³ (still well above pre-pandemic levels)
• Structural steel: £900–£1,400 per tonne
• Rigid insulation: £15–£25 per m² (roughly doubled)
• Aluminium windows & doors: £800–£1,500 per m² installed
And that’s before labour, which is often the bigger issue.
Skilled tradespeople are in short supply post-Brexit. A solid bricklayer or plasterer in this region now commands £200–£280 a day — and they’re worth every penny. Add fuel surcharges, evolving Building Regulations, and planning delays, and the costs keep climbing.
What you can actually do
• Get a detailed, current-rate cost plan early (not a vague ballpark)
• Build in a realistic contingency
• Lock in long-lead items like windows and kitchens sooner rather than later
• Choose your contractor on value and transparency, not just the lowest price
