The number of new building projects in the public sector fell by 10% in part because of the snap general election in June, according to construction analysts.

Glenigan says non-residential project starts were 15% down on the same period in 2016, with education, health, infrastructure and community and amenity sectors facing the sharpest declines

Civil engineering starts were 23% lower than a year ago, though residential building was unaffected and the first three months of 2017 were up on the previous year.

Glenigan says the delays in the second quarter of this year were temporary and it expects construction to pick up following the election.

Glenigan’s economics director, Allan Wilén, said: 'The year-on-year decline in project starts is in part due to decisions on public sector projects being temporarily delayed by the snap general election, with education, health, infrastructure and community and amenity sectors witnessing the sharpest declines.

'We anticipate that these delayed projects will bolster starts over the coming months as work gets underway post-election.'