Steve Wharton, Manager at MPA Masonry offers his perspectives on the challenges facing the UK construction sector and outlines how the industry can succeed by increasingly thinking locally.
Since Autumn 2021, the UK construction industry has faced a consecutive series of challenges which have pushed back planned developments and prevented shovels from breaking ground as originally intended. From the grounding of Ever Given in the Suez Canal to the current Russian-Ukraine War, a string of events – quite out of our control – has put massive strains on the supply chain. This has led to material shortages, in some cases quite severe, particularly of imported structural elements such as timber and steel.
As readers will be well aware, the builders’ merchant sector has been acutely affected and is bearing the brunt of the impact, struggling to cope with the shortages as contractors, subcontractors, housebuilders, developers and even self-builders compete over shrinking stock levels.
“From the outset, merchants need to take a long hard look at their stocklists and reappraise the materials they import, assessing where they can substitute the lack of international product with a like-for-like, domestically produced alternative, preferably one with a small supply chain too.”
Unfortunately, despite a positive long-term attitude, the short-term economic predictions are less optimistic and it looks as though the situation will remain the same for the meantime. Putting this in context, the latest Construction Review from market intelligence experts Glenigan highlighted overall declines in planning approvals, main contract awards and project starts in Q1 2022.
However, as Chaucer put it so eloquently, “time and tide wait for no man”, and the ever-urgent need for new housing stock and critical infrastructure persists, regardless of shortages. We need to redress this dire situation now, and the good news is UK-based materials manufacturers and builders’ merchants have a mutual part to play in helping the wider industry overcome these strained circumstances.
From the outset, merchants need to take a long hard look at their stocklists and reappraise the materials they import, assessing where they can substitute the lack of international product with a like-for-like, domestically produced alternative, preferably one with a small supply chain too.
In my position as the new Manager at MPA Masonry, and having worked in construction for over 30 years, I’ve been able to observe the advantages these small supply chains offer in the good times. The building block manufacturers I represent are a good example, with over 95% of the product sold in the UK locally sourced, produced and distributed.
That’s just one of many different options, but they all start with the same motivation of the convenience of small supply chains. Once again, I suggest the building block as a case study, and all of its’ constituents: cement, sand and aggregate. They’re readily available within our shores. Most can be reclaimed from existing materials or excavated domestically, compacting the supply chain.
“Building blocks also serve as a great example when it comes to thinking about circular manufacturing models. It’s worth noting that all MPA Masonry members follow a circular ambition, embracing the 5R principles (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle).”
Building blocks also serve as a great example when it comes to thinking about circular manufacturing models. It’s worth noting that all MPA Masonry members follow a circular ambition, embracing the 5R principles (Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle). A good example is the repurposing of pulverised fly ash (PFA) and furnace bottom ash (FBA). Dual by-products of the steel industry, the use of PFA and FBA, which have sat for years in slag heaps across the UK, are now being given a new lease of life.
Whilst worries around the rising cost of imported materials persist, it’s important to remind ourselves of the UK’s existing wealth of raw and recycled materials. We should also remember that whilst the current febrile climate is challenging everyone across construction, it’s also a great catalyst for material innovation, from composition through to design application.
In this situation, I believe merchants should be earnestly exploring and investigating such products, helping to ease shortages now as well as investing in potentially commercially attractive lines in the long-term.
We also need to consider logistics. As fuel prices continue to increase, freight haulage will be feeling the pinch. To this, merchants and distributors will be looking to stock those materials requiring the least amount of shipping.
As far as concrete building blocks are concerned this is good news, as it’s estimated any UK construction site is within approximately 40 miles of a health supply. This means less transportation, resulting in lower fuel costs and reduced emissions. This small supply chain ethos will also help merchants tangibly contribute towards Net Zero 2050, meeting targets with minimal impact to existing business models.
These small supply chains, whilst important, are only part of a wider picture in the drive to make buildings more sustainable. Encouraging clients to adopt a leaner approach to construction, builders’ merchants should be vigorously endorsing thermal efficiency. This sees the merchant’s influence and impact go beyond the yard gates, helping developers benefit owners and tenants, mitigating rising energy bills through high-performance, low energy homes.
“Encouraging clients to adopt a leaner approach to construction, builders’ merchants should be vigorously endorsing thermal efficiency. This sees the merchant’s influence and impact go beyond the yard gates, helping developers benefit owners and tenants, mitigating rising energy bills through high-performance, low energy homes.”
With the Russia-Ukraine War at full pace, and global materials shortages peaking, merchants across the country need to start drawing up their strategies to weather this particularly intense supply chain storm. A core part of this needs to be a greater commitment to sourcing products locally and sustainably, which will help them meet these challenges head on.
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