FMB calls for government support

Ninety per cent of builders face rising costs, as supply chain disruptions and rising product demand are making it hard for building.

The latest State of Trade survey data from the Federation of Master Builders paints a worrying picture that it says the government must address to ensure that builders do not face a cliff-edge in the construction supply chain from January.

After a busy summer, it shows that workloads are slowing. Material prices are rising and there are key shortages in timber, tiling, white goods and PVC windows and doors.

Brian Berry, chief executive of the FMB, said: “Builders are facing significant material shortages and growing waiting times for the products they need. With the end of the Brexit transition period only weeks away, builders need confidence that they will not face delays at the ports and price hikes going into 2021. With 87% of builders forecasting material price hikes, recovery risks grinding to a halt if these issues are not resolved.”

Berry added: “By investing in a long-term plan to green our existing homes, and by ramping up funding for local authority planning departments, the Government can help support recovery and job retention in construction.”

17 December 2020