The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has urged the government to do more to support the construction sector.
Britain's faltering economy has already affected the take-up of construction equipment such as concrete rakes, rain protection for concrete pours and power trowels in recent months.
Indeed, almost half of the FMB's members believe their workloads are likely to decline during the first quarter of the year.
According to the body, increasing investment in the industry would be a good way of stimulating further growth in the economy.
This, it said, is because every £1 spent on construction output generates economic activity worth £2.84.
Richard Diment, director general of the FMB, commented: "The government really must do more to support the construction sector because without its help the UK will continue to lag behind our European neighbours."
He was speaking after the Office for National Statistics revealed that between October and December 2009, economic output in Britain rose by 0.1 per cent.
Mr Diment said that while the UK is now out of recession, the fallout of the economic slump will continue to affect the building sector unless action is taken.
Britain's faltering economy has already affected the take-up of construction equipment such as concrete rakes, rain protection for concrete pours and power trowels in recent months.
Indeed, almost half of the FMB's members believe their workloads are likely to decline during the first quarter of the year.
According to the body, increasing investment in the industry would be a good way of stimulating further growth in the economy.
This, it said, is because every £1 spent on construction output generates economic activity worth £2.84.
Richard Diment, director general of the FMB, commented: "The government really must do more to support the construction sector because without its help the UK will continue to lag behind our European neighbours."
He was speaking after the Office for National Statistics revealed that between October and December 2009, economic output in Britain rose by 0.1 per cent.
Mr Diment said that while the UK is now out of recession, the fallout of the economic slump will continue to affect the building sector unless action is taken.