Brick production keeping pace

With NHBC figures for new house registrations at their highest level since 2007 and DCLG projections showing that household numbers are set to increase at the rate of 210,000 per year, it is just as well that brick manufacturers are continuing to perform strongly.

Brick production in September was up 8.5%c on the same month last year, broadly consistent with the 9.5% increase in the rolling 12-month comparison to the previous period.

Speaking at the recent Brick Awards, BDA Chief Executive Keith Aldis alluded to the increasing self-sufficiency in the UK housing market, with rising domestic brick production increasing at a faster rate than distribution.

Better than expected construction figures (up 2.1% in the three months to September) point to the sector gaining some momentum, despite background uncertainty over Brexit impact, with new housing performing particularly strongly.

“Our members have demonstrated their confidence in the long-term outlook for new houses by investing in their production capacity”, summarised The Brick Development Association’s spokesman Tom Farmer.

“The number one priority for domestic policy on all sides of the political debate appears to be a determination to meet housing need – if we can build the required new homes with domestically-produced materials, so much the better.”