Project starts fell 12% against the preceding three months to November, according to research by Glenigan, standing 25% lower than a year ago.


With news that millions of pensioners are worried about energy bills this winter, Wilo is urging for grants to be put toward central heating upgrades.


A recycling trial by Polypipe Building Services and Wolseley Pipe Centre UK, has won Collaboration of the Year at the H&V Awards 2023.


BMF CEO says Autumn statement a missed opportunity


BMF CEO, John Newcomb, has welcomed the announcement to make full expensing permanent but highlights that the government has missed several opportunities. These opportunities include: the chance to create new jobs and boost local growth; by failing to support a national retrofit strategy which would have improved the energy efficiency of millions of existing homes across the UK.


Newcomb said in a statement: “The announcement on full expensing will be welcomed by builders merchants and building material manufacturers along with many other businesses as they invest to expand and upgrade their facilities. But, beyond a pledge to reform elements of the planning system, there was little direct support for the construction sector in the main headlines.


BMBI report: Volume sales to builders and trades decreased 10.5%


Value sales were down -3.3%, as prices rose +8.0%. There was no difference in trading days. The three largest categories all sold less: Heavy Building Materials (-1.5%), Landscaping (-7.0%) and Timber & Joinery Products (-13.1%).


The Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI) reports that compared to the same period in 2022, Q3 2023 total volume sales to builders and trades fell -10.5% from Britain’s Builders’ Merchants.


Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA


Research who produce the report, said: “Q3 was a wash out for the building industry. GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index also fell sharply from -21 to -30


Beesley & Fildes makes £7m vehicle investment


Independent, family-owned builders merchant Beesley & Fildes has continued to boost its environmental sustainability strategy, with a £7m investment in a new fleet of vehicles. The company has purchased a total of 21 DAF trucks from Motus Commercials. All have been designed to lower emissions and comply with the Government’s legal requirement to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels on local roads by 2026.


The trucks include the DAF 26-tonne CF and 19-tonne LF specifications, which are used to deliver building materials


December 2023 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


across the North West from the merchant’s 11 branches. Beesley & Fildes has also invested in two electric cars as well as six hybrid models replacing older petrol vehicles for sales representatives and managers.


“We want to get Britain building again, but there was nothing in the budget relating to our number one ask, support for a national retrofit strategy. This was a missed opportunity to stimulate the repair maintenance and improvement sector, create thousands of appropriately skilled jobs and boost much-needed local growth, while at the same time helping millions of families to improve their homes’


in October defying expectations of continued improvement to -20 as the high cost of living and economic uncertainties weighed on sentiment. With inflation dropped more than forecast, from 6.7% in September to 4.6% in October” Total value sales dipped -1.4% in Q3 2023 compared with April to June 2023. Volume sales dropped -2.1% and prices edged up +0.8%. Like-for-like sales were -7.5% lower in July to September compared to the second quarter. Compared to August, total


merchant September value sales were down -3.4%. Volume (-2.7%) and price (-0.7%) were also down. With one less trading day in September, like-for-like sales were +1.2% higher.


NBG takes in NI


Drainage products manufacturer Brett Martin hosted National Buying Group merchant members from across the UK at its Mallusk site in Northern Ireland. Following a presentation on


current initiatives, the merchants were given an inside look at the company’s operations to witness products such as drainage pipes and fittings being made in its impressive manufacturing facility. The group also learned about the investment Brett Martin is making in reducing its carbon footprint, including a 100m-tall wind turbine, which together with the solar farm contributes to 50% of the overall energy consumption on site.


energy efficiency and cut heating bills.


“We will continue to speak


directly to government to promote the positive impact of a skilled RMI programme. We will focus on the work we are doing to build a workforce to deliver the low carbon solutions that are the essence of the national retrofit strategy and the impact kickstart support from government would make.”


Outside is in for home buyers, says research


Nearly two-thirds (60%) of peo- ple make up their minds about whether they want to live in a property within one minute of seeing the outside. Research, which surveyed 2,001 people across the UK and was carried out by hard land- scaping specialists Marshalls, found that 68% of people would be put off wanting to buy or live in a property if there were big design flaws with the front garden that they didn’t like. Looking at the features that appeal to prospective buyers, planters, hanging baskets and real grass areas (21%), as well as trees (20%), wildlife gardens (17%), raised bedding areas (15%) and bird baths (14%) were the top responses, fol- lowed by new driveways (14%), bin storage (13%) and privacy screening (12%). People’s top reasons for caring about their home’s kerb appeal include improving its appear- ance from the outside (44%) and improving its value (29%). In terms of wider housing developments, two-fifths of the research respondents said they’d be more likely to buy a new build home if it had well-land- scaped communal areas. Safety was also critical, with lighting and CCTV making up the rest of the top three features sought after in shared spaces.


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