Architects are increasingly positive about the future workloads but confidence is still fragile, according to the RIBA’s Future Trends Survey for November.

The RIBA’s Workloads Index compares the number of practices predicting increased workloads compared to those expecting a fall in commissions. While negative predictions still outweigh positive, the balance shifted for the second consecutive month, to -4 from -7 in October and -10 in September.

Large practices, those with over 51 staff, are far more confident that workloads will increase in the next three months, with an index of +33. Practices in London are also more optimistic than their counterparts in other areas of the country.

The forecast for the public sector improved slightly in November 2011 but those for the commercial, community and private housing sectors all edged downwards. But large practices reported a small improvement in the outlook for work in the commercial sector.

Adrian Dobson, RIBA director of practice, said: “The situation remains challenging. Practices continue to find it difficult to predict future cash flow and there are signs of a return to high levels of late payment of fees.

“While some practices report increased feasibility work for commercial projects, these are not yet always leading to full commissions, and many clients are still finding it hard to secure bank lending for projects.”