34,920
The number of housing completions in the three months April to June 2016, according to DCLG, a 7% rise on the previous quarter
Chemical supplies at risk following BASF factory fire
Building material suppliers who use certain chemicals in the manufacture of their products are likely to face supply chain difficulties after a massive explosion at German chemicals company BASF killed three people and injured dozens.
The explosion at the factory in Ludwigshafen happened in a pipeline taking raw
chemicals to shipping and the company is likely to face huge challenges in supplying customers. The affected pipeline included ones with ethylene and propylene. Ethylene is used for the
production of insulating materials and solvents, among others. Propylene is used for automotive paints, dispersions and adhesives.
NBG Midlands merchants expand
Independent builders merchants buying group National Buying Group has seen a number of partners opening new branches in the Midlands.
Leamington Spa-based Building & Plumbing Supplies (BPS) has opened in Cirencester and Malvern- headquartered County Building Supplies has expanded its presence in Cheltenham. BPS’s new Cirencester branch brings the company’s network of general merchant branches to six, following the opening of one at Southam last year. “We’ve been looking to open a branch in Cirencester for some time,” says managing director John Dibble. “The town fits well with our customer
profile, and geographically it gives us an excellent base for tackling the Cotswolds. ” County Building Supplies’ new Cheltenham branch takes its total to 10 across the southern Midlands and Monmouth. It will be a plumbing and heating outlet with an on-site kitchen and bathroom showroom, complementing County’s existing general building branch in Cheltenham. “The new branch in Cheltenham is part of our larger growth strategy which includes a sizeable pro-active sales force, a focus on green building and a strengthened management team,” says County managing director Martyn Rees.
Construction activity rises but confidence falls
UK construction companies saw a sustained expansion of business activity in October according to the latest figures from the Markit/CIPS UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index® (PMI® ), released on November 2. Led by residential building work, the Index edged up from 52.3 in September - the fastest upturn in activity since March, although softer than the average since the recovery began (57.3). New order volumes picked
up across the sector, but the rate of growth eased and remained weaker than seen
BMJ November 2016
prior to this summer. At the same time, input costs rose at one of the fastest rates for five years - widely linked to the weaker pound. Commercial construction activity stabilised in October; civil engineering decreased slightly and was the weakest performing category. New business growth was much weaker than during Q1 2016. Looking ahead, those expecting a rise in business activity over the next 12 months (43%) continued to exceed those that forecast a reduction (14%), though this was the second-lowest since May 2013.
NOVEMBER
www.buildersmerchantjournal.net
John Nicholls opens super merchant site
Oxfordshire-based builders and plumbers merchant John Nicholls has opeed a new branch in Bicester. The new site is the largest single site within the Nicholls Group, covering 40,000sq ft. This includes a large builders’ and plumbers’ merchant, kitchen and bathroom solutions showroom, warehousing, office space and a large yard area.
The new site incorporates all the Nicholls core
Construction sales rise for 14th time
Sales by manufacturers of construction materials rose for the 14th quarter in a row in the third quarter of 2016, according to the Construction Products Association’s latest State of Trade Survey. • 26% of heavy side firms and 50% of light side firms reported increased sales in the third quarter of 2016 compared with Q2 . • 45% of heavy side firms and 67% of those on the light side anticipated rising sales over the next three months • On an annual basis, sales
rose for 68% of heavy side firms and 60% of firms on the light side, on balance • On balance, 45% of heavy side manufacturers anticipated a rise in sales in Q4, improving from a balance of -13% in Q2
• On the light side, 67% of firms expected an increase in product sales in the next quarter, compared to a zero balance in Q2
• 42% of heavy side firms and 40% of light side firms anticipated an increase in export sales over the next year
• Annual cost increases
were reported by 57% of heavy side manufacturers and 56% of those on the light side.
businesses, as well as a range of bedroom and joinery displays, direct-to-site delivery options, van-size parking spaces and a partnership with a neighbouring café.
BMF meets SNP
At the Scottish National Party Conference in Glasgow, the Builders Merchants Federation’s Graham Bolton, Scottish Regional Manager, and Brett Amphlett, Policy Manager, spoke to SNP government ministers about their ideas and policies. The Minister for Housing, Kevin Stewart MSP, re-iterated the Government’s pledge to build 50,000 new affordable homes in this parliamentary term - including 35,000 homes for social rent. On a smaller scale, he outlined trials for self- and custom-build in the Highlands to help people who want to stay in their community. The Minister also gave details of a new equity loan pilot scheme for energy- efficient improvements and associated essential repairs being conducted with Glasgow, Argyll & Bute, and Perth & Kinross councils that relates to merchants. To qualify, the work carried out must include having certain energy-efficient improvements done - but funding for external housing repairs is also available. “The Scottish Government has set ambitious housing targets which will see the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes during this parliament. We have also designated energy efficiency as a National Infrastructure Priority,” he said.
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