Time to get Britain building responsibly, say Aggregate Industries

AI’s managing director of aggregates provides construction industry response to first speech from new Chancellor

RESPONDING to Rachel Reeves’ first speech as new Chancellor of the Exchequer, Aggregate Industries have wholeheartedly welcomed the Government’s announcement to ‘get Britain building again’ and its commitment for 1.5 million homes to be built over the next five years, saying the ambition and clarity this brings are crucial in these times.

Lee Sleight, managing director of aggregates at Aggregate Industries, said: ‘As a leading sustainable building materials supplier within the UK, we are fully on board with this initiative and ready to support key areas such as house building, infrastructure and onshore wind.

‘So far in 2024, the UK market has seen a concerning slowdown in both infrastructure projects and house building, with 24% less construction starts in the first quarter of 2024 compared with the previous year, and construction output in the housing sector 19% below 2019 levels in February this year.

‘The economic and social impact of this slowdown is significant and far-reaching. Economically, the construction industry is a major employer, so a waning market means fewer employment opportunities within the sector and related industries such as manufacturing, transport and services, whereas socially, the public is facing a housing crisis and a dire need for more social and affordable homes. For these reasons, it is imperative that we get building moving.

‘While the Government’s new house-building targets are positive, sustainability must be central to this. We are already collaborating with developers and contractors to drive sustainable building through the increased use of reduced carbon and recycled materials.

‘Without a doubt, the urgent steps which the Chancellor has laid out to kick-start economic growth are necessary and achievable, and we are poised ready for the challenge. However, taking house building as an example, the 1.5 million homes projected over the next five years will require vast amounts of materials.’

A conservative estimate of just the concrete required for these homes could be 37.5 million cubic metres. For perspective, this equates to more than nine times the capacity of Wembley Stadium and underscores the importance of recycled materials.

‘This is why it’s crucial we create a new blueprint for the Great British built environment,' continued Mr Sleight. 'Aggregate Industries have ambitious plans to help achieve net zero and are adopting a circular economy approach across everything they do.

‘The construction industry must responsibly embrace the Chancellor’s national mission for growth but can only achieve this by building in a circular and wholly sustainable way. This goes far beyond just minimizing waste. Effectively, we need to build new cities from the ‘urban quarry’ of our old stock, thereby conserving the precious resources of our island nation.’