Brick is back

Brick sales this year have been at their highest since 2007, according to a report
from Ibstock Brick published on the Construction Index website.

'In the six months to the end of June 2017, overall brick industry despatches were 15% ahead of the same period last year,' said Ibstock sales director Tony France.

Mr France continued: 'Builder's merchants continue to replenish brick stock levels after a year of de-stocking, particularly during the first half of 2016, and merchants’ sales remain strong. At the same time, housebuilders continue to increase their build programmes in response to the ongoing demand created by low unemployment, low mortgage interest rates, a chronic shortage of homes and particularly, the continuing influence of the government's Help-to-Buy Equity Loan scheme, which has been used in over 120,000 newly built home transactions since its introduction in 2013. With the government committed to this scheme until 2021, the pace of new home building appears set to continue for the foreseeable future.

'With clay brick the most popular choice by far for constructing new homes, brick demand should also be strong over the coming years. Indeed, recent evidence suggests brick sales are showing signs of returning to pre-financial crisis levels.'