A new Parliamentary Bill aimed at boosting demand for British-made bricks could provide a welcome lift for manufacturers and jobs across North Staffordshire.
Newcastle-under-Lyme MP Adam Jogee is today introducing the British-made Bricks (Proposals) Bill, which urges Ministers to ensure its target of building 1.5 million new homes actively supports UK manufacturing, jobs and domestic supply chains.
The move comes amid growing concern across the brick and ceramics sector that British producers are being undercut by imported materials, despite having the capacity to meet domestic demand. Around 20 per cent of the UK brick market is now made up of imports, including from non-EU countries, many of which carry higher carbon costs due to longer transport distances and lower production standards.
Figures show Britain can produce around two billion bricks a year, yet most manufacturers are currently operation at only around 70 per cent capacity.
In his speech presenting the Bill, the MP plans to draw attention to the importance of the brick and ceramics industry to North Staffordshire.
The UK’s biggest brickmaker Ibstock produces 21 different brick types from a factory on Audley Road in Chesterton, and its base at Parkhouse Industrial Estate in Newcastle-under-Lyme – established in 1985 – is described as a ‘vital part’ of the company’s operations.
Ahead of introducing the Bill, Adam said: “This is a big deal for people back home in Newcastle-under-Lyme – not least the many people who work at Ibstock in Chesterton.”
“With such ambitious housebuilding targets, we should expect to see a thriving British industry. Instead, too many manufacturers – including in my community – are facing reduced demand and uncertainty, while imported materials continue to undercut high-quality British products. That simply does not add up.”
British-made clay bricks are widely used in UK housing due to their durability, low maintenance needs, and suitability for the UK climate.
The sector supports thousands of jobs and underpins the wider construction supply chain.
The Bill will call on Ministers to publish proposals to increase the use of British-made bricks in construction projects, with the aim of supporting domestic manufacturing, safeguarding jobs and reducing the carbon impact of imported materials.
Excellent news for the heavy clay products sector! I sincerely hope this Bill is quickly passed into law. But why can’t the sector get it’s act together? Why just bricks and not roof tiles, brick slips, refractories and sanitary wares? Also in Newcastle-under-Lyme is the UK’s biggest clay roof tile works at Madeley, why is this not mentioned in Mr. Jogee’s Bill?