Latest CBA Newsletter - Concrete Block Association

modern masonry alliance
The fight of course continues - we still
have lots to do if we are to win hearts
and minds on the sustainability agenda.
Our “ Built to last 150 Years” message is
beginning to be understood by the myriad
of design influencers who believed that
shipping timber half way across the world
and building homes that perform badly
and last 60 years was the only answer to
sustainability.
As we continue to erode the market share
of timber frame construction across the
UK, we must expect the timber industry to
fight back as they have a lot at stake. The
Pan-European “Wood First” Campaign
comes 4 years after we launched our
brand “Masonry First”. The wood industry
is a global one with funding coming
from Canada, Austria, Scandinavia and
Russia, all of which have a lot to gain
from dumping timber into the UK market
as a substitute for blocks and bricks
manufactured in the UK.
With the UKGBC and BRE lending their
support to the increased use of timber we
must redouble our efforts to ensure they
do not succeed.
Everybody needs to understand that the
loss of the brick and block manufacturing
sector would be permanent and this
would seriously damage the economic
prospects UK Plc. It will result in adverse
balance of payments, lost employment
opportunities and inferior housing for
future generations.
Thank you for your continued support, it
is imperative that we all stand together
and consolidate on the market share wins
that we have achieved. We will never
have a better opportunity to settle the
sustainability debate, once and for all, in
our favour of masonry construction and
the Resource Efficiency Action Plan ( REAP)
will prove invaluable in achieving this.
If you have not already done so please
don’t forget to sign up to free news alerts
at www.masonryfirst.co.uk
A Guide to Government Housing Incentives
92 pence in every £1 spent on construction
stays in the UK and that’s because we
make it here! This is the first and most
important point I make to all national and
local politician’s every time I meet them
and I would encourage you to do the
same.
Add to this the fact that the construction
of 100,000 new homes adds 1% to GDP
and you will see that no other industry can
claim such a return on investment for UK
PLC, furthermore no other industry can
respond as quickly to deliver the jobs and
growth that our economy so badly needs.
So what about the short term? With a
“Triple Dip Recession” a distinct possibility
and a decline in the overall housing market
in the last quarter of 2012 you could be
forgiven for being a little depressed. My
belief, however, is a little more upbeat. The
68% cut in capital grant to social housing
hit hard in 2012, with many programs
coming to an end and new ones shelved.
I am confident that we will see something
of a bounce-back in this sector with new
methods of funding secured, particularly
from the Bond market, which will result
in more social homes built in 2013 than
in 2012. We are also working closely
with local authorities who will enter the
affordable rent and homes for sale market
in 2013, making use of land they own and
accessing the very low interest rates that
are available to the more secure public
sector borrowers.
In the private sector we will continue
to see the top seven house builders
dominate the market, although the
“Funding for Lending” scheme and the
“Loan Guarantees Scheme” may see
some smaller house builders return to the
market. Either way, I expect the bigger
house builders to build more than last year,
so in total I see the market being at least
10% better than last year. Add to this the
real possibility that the Budget takes place
on the same day as the CBA AGM; it will
further stimulate the housing market as
the Government desperately seeks ways
to drive jobs and growth ahead of a 2015
General Election.
One thing is for sure, “Local” is back in
fashion and CBA members are in a great
place to ensure that any projects that do
go ahead are sourced locally, and that
the local politicians really begin to get
the fact that local goods and local skilled
labour make for a successful economy. I
would implore each of you to invite not
just your local MP, but the leader of your
Council to come and see what you do
and understand that it is critical that it is
“Made in Britain”.
Demand is improving but not quickly
enough. The decision by Moody’s to
remove our AAA credit rating is the final
warning our Chancellor will get. We are
repeating our call for the funding for
25000 additional public rented homes to
be built in 2013/14. Our industry stands
ready to build these homes and in doing so
create demand for our bricks and blocks,
and create much needed jobs. A history
lesson in economic recovery from previous
recessions will confirm the building new
homes delivers jobs and growth. www.
jobsandgrowth.co.uk
Alarm Bells continue to sound
The simple fact that timber burns very
aggressively means that there is a high
probability of a total building loss and risk
to life as a result of a major fire.
Recently a new £4.5 million Environmental
Centre in Bradford under construction
using cross-laminated timber burnt
down, proving that this was far from
being “Britain’s most Sustainable building
“which is how the owners described it. In
Wolverhampton a large block of owneroccupied
flats built using SIP’s panels burnt
to the ground for the second time in 5
years.
We continue to work hard with Senor Fire
Fighters, the Fire Brigade Union, Insurance
Companies and Government to prevent
the use of timber frame, particularly in
high rise buildings and care homes.
We are also producing a design guide to
fire detailing in masonry structures as part
of our strategy to prevent loss of life and
ensure our buildings are constructed from
non-combustible masonry built to last 150
years.
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