Housing minister in Hinckley
HOUSING Minister Alok Sharma has welcomed plans by Ibstock, the UK’s largest brick manufacturer, to invest £50 million in a new factory in Leicestershire.
At an event held at the Jury’s Inn Hotel in Hinckley, attended by leading representatives from the UK’s builders’ merchants industry, the minister emphasised the vital role builders’ merchants play in getting more homes built in this country.
He also welcomed the success of the Builders Merchants’ Federation as a major representative of the sector for 109 years, congratulating the resilient performance of builders’ merchants over 2017, supporting local growth, development and housebuilding across the country.
According to the latest figures released by the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), sales in Q2 of this year were 5.3 per cent higher compared to the same period last year.
The Housing and Planning Minister also highlighted the need for the government and sector to work together to improve fairness across the housing market, bridge the skills gap and encourage the development of welldesigned and good quality homes.
He said: “Delivering more homes is a key priority for this government. Builders’ merchants have an absolutely vital role to play in this, supplying the essential materials we need to get our country building faster.
“Ibstock’s major investment at their Leicestershire site is fantastic news for the building materials industry, demonstrating continuing confidence in this sector and growing consumer demand.”