WE’RE BRICKING IT
New homes hit by supplies shortage
BUILDERS are running out of bricks to build new homes with some waiting more than a year for a delivery.
A poll of 8,000 members of the Federation of Master Builders found the crisis in the first quarter of 2018 was worse than that in 2015.
Then the problem meant they had to wait eight months for supplies.
The crisis has been made worse by a shortage of roof tiles, windows, plasterboard and timber.
Leeds builder Samuel Taylor said: “Builders cannot build without bricks and we’re being left in the lurch again because brick manufacturers are taking so long to come up with the goods.”
Brian Berry, FMB boss, said: “Material prices have rocketed over the past year.
“The rise in material prices is not just a problem for the country’s construction firms – it is also a problem for homeowners.
“Half of firms have been forced to pass these price increases onto their clients, meaning building projects are becoming more and more expensive.
“This problem has wors- ened with more than twice as many firms passing material prices on to their clients now compared with nine months ago.”
The FMB’s lastest State of Trade survey shows that almost 90% of building firms are expecting further rises over the next six months.
Mr Berry warned a large number of building businesses could go under.