MASONRY
CAN DELIVER INCREASE IN HOUSING
Concrete block, aircrete, brick and concrete roof manufacturers
are now investing in the future. The country needs more housing,
and concrete manufacturers are increasing production capacities.
The Modern Masonry Alliance response to the government
housing white paper makes the case for the performance benefits
of masonry construction and the capacity of the industry to
deliver.
Manufacturers are reporting a doubling of block output to meet
the forecast increase in housing starts and that spare capacity
remains in the system. Throughout the UK there was significant
investment in 2016, and there has been further investment in
2017. This is in the form of replacement of old plants to increase
production rates or new additional production lines. Members
also continue to extend working hours and bring mothballed
production lines into operation to meet increasing demand, and
they report that further spare capacity can be brought online as
and when demand increases further.
Tarmac’s Building Products division is increasing its Durox aerated
block manufacturing capacity. It is well positioned to continue
to meet high customer demand for quality block products. The
second of two existing factories in Essex, is due to open late this
year.
Thomas Armstrong is another company increasing block
production with a new plant in Leeds. This latest factory
development advocates the government’s aims of creating a
Northern Powerhouse, addressing the issues of an unbalanced
economy.
MANUFACTURERS
ARE REPORTING A
DOUBLING OF BLOCK
OUTPUT TO MEET THE
FORECAST INCREASE
Besblock is also working to accommodate the increased housing
demand. The firm, formed in 1972 announced in 2016 an
investment of £1m including further plans to invest in technology
and environmentally friendly vehicles.
And it is not only blocks, but bricks as well. Ibstock is boosting
capacity having recently invested £54 million into a new factory.
This move will increase the production of bricks to deliver an extra
15,000 homes annually from the end of 2017.
And finally, investing nearly £8 million to expand capacity at its
Leighton Buzzard factory, Forticrete is increasing the volume and
quality of concrete roofing materials. The company’s bespoke new
tile line has been purpose built, to produce two brand new large
format tiles which will deliver cost and time savings.
With the government’s pledge to build one million houses before
2020, the efforts already made by UK block, aircrete, brick and
concrete roof tile manufacturers are a step in the right direction in
meeting this ambitious target.
For more information visit: modernmasonry.co.uk