Latest figures from
the Office for National Statistics show domestic brick manufacturing continuing
to rise steadily further, easing any concerns over product shortages.
Production numbers
for February show a 2.8% rise over the same month in 2018, with the quarterly
production numbers up 6%.
The Brick
Development Association’s Tom Farmer observed: “The last calendar year has seen
the brick industry ploughing millions into manufacturing production and we see
the results in a steadily increasing output.
“We know that our
members are taking a long term view of UK housing and are investing with
confidence that the demand for new homes continues to outstrip supply by a
considerable margin. There is only one way out of that situation and that’s to
build more houses.
“We are confident
that current and future governments will continue to view housing as a top
priority in domestic politics and our manufacturers are working to ensure that
brick availability will not be an issue.”
The BDA’s upbeat
assessment of future housing demand is bullish given a flatlining in new
housebuilding. Figures from the Ministry of Housing for the last quarter
of 2018 show housing starts down 2% on the same period a year before with NHBC
figures for February showing an even more marked 7% decrease in registrations
over February 2018.
“There is no doubt
that political uncertainty is affecting private sector activity,” continues
Farmer. “However, the market for affordable homes remains strong and we
anticipate that once some degree of political clarity returns, we will see
renewed energy in the housing sector.”
