The UK’s flat roof waterproofing sector suffered during the pandemic, but a new report suggests it will soon be growing again.

According to a study by AMA Research, the pandemic period has seen a 13 per cent drop in the volume of jobs undertaken. However, the report forecasts that as the economy and construction sector recovers from the worst of the pandemic, the expansion of the sector will resume with a vengeance, Building Products reports.

The report noted that since 2016, the growing number of new-build homes and a large number of new school, education, office and infrastructure projects had combined to raise demand for flat-roofing work. The conclusion is that this trend has been briefly interrupted by the pandemic, but the longer-term trajectory has not been thrown off course.

Senior research manager at AMA Research Alex Blagden said flat roof waterproofing is “forecast to increase” despite shortages of some materials. He noted the fact the UK now has a trade agreement with the EU “has seen investor confidence begin to return across the commercial & industrial new build sector”.

Flat roof specialists in Manchester may find they are particularly busy as the revival of the construction sector will help strengthen what was already one of the most active areas of new building in the UK.

Many of these will be on the tall buildings planned or under construction in and around the city centre, with the latest projects including proposals by Cheshire-based Select Property Group for two towers of 11 and 31 storeys in the Northern Quarter.

However, the penchant for skyscrapers is not the only significant trend in urban building. The report also predicted flat roof demand could be increased by a growing desire to install ‘green roofs’ to improve air quality and reduce water run-off in heavily built up areas.

Among the projects in Manchester to feature flat green roofs will be a new brownfield development in Newton Heath, the Manchester Evening News revealed last month.