It’s been a tough year for housebuilders already. Strained supply chain issues and sky-high energy prices aren’t making things easy, and the impact is slowing down the production of much needed housing. 

To make matters worse, Brexit and, more recently, the geopolitical turmoil in Eastern Europe have muddied the waters, making it more difficult to obtain essential building materials, driving up costs even further. 

Yet the answer to some of our problems may be closer than we think, and building materials produced on our doorstep could be the solution to the UK’s construction needs in 2022.

Making the most of masonry

The masonry sector, for example, is taking decisive action, investing in exciting concrete brick factory openings and looking for innovative ways to keep housebuilding on track.

Masonry as a material choice offers a solution to an overreliance on imported materials, which are causing problematic delays. By investing in more masonry factories, companies can greatly reduce lead times, allowing work to continue as planned.  

But it’s not just about availability – masonry can also help with compliance and sustainability.

Compliance is vital

The newly welcomed Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) and alterations made to the Defective Premises Act 1972 (DPA)  have put building safety at the top of the agenda, meaning developers must scrutinise all building products to guarantee they are as safe and secure as possible.

Without due care, the new strict liability policy will result in severe legal action if any violations of the DPA are discovered. This means safety must be prioritised first and foremost, particularly when it comes to fire risks. It’s here that masonry comes into its own. Naturally fire-resistant and non-combustible and able to withstand extreme heat, it’s an obvious choice for cavity wall construction, particularly in block form.

It also helps meet requirements laid out in the latest editions to Approved Document B, which bans combustible materials in and on the external walls of buildings. By creating a sealed chamber for insulation, lowering the risk of fire, it can act as an efficient moisture preventative, which is important given the increased risk of flooding. Its enhanced structural stability also greatly reduces the chance of deterioration or collapse in the event of a fire.

Supporting sustainability 

The Future Homes Standard is also putting building materials under the microscope – they now need to demonstrate carbon-reducing properties as new homes move away from using fossil fuels. More specifically, as of the beginning June 15, 2022, all Building Regulation applications must include a 30% decrease in emissions for newly built homes through to 2025.

Masonry and passive solar design (PSD), for instance, is one of the best ways to guarantee the best possible fabric performance, warming the foundation of a building and minimising the need for any additional heating during colder months. Due to the material's weight, it’s also capable of absorbing solar gains, which when utilised in tandem with passive HVAC, contributes to the year-round maintenance of acceptable temperatures.

By improving a building's thermal performance, housebuilders can make steps towards new regulatory changes in relation to Part L, which now mandates that all future homes must reach a U-value of 0.18 W/m2k or below.

The next steps

With a recession looming, an ongoing energy crisis, and continuous uncertainty in the political landscape, housebuilders, and developers should look to the path of least resistance when it comes to sourcing materials. The good news is that there’s light at the end of the tunnel – new brick and masonry materials plants should help ease the burden of spiralling costs and work delays.

We have tried and tested means at our fingertips, and if we’re to tackle the current housing shortage, then masonry offers many solutions to some of housebuilding’s biggest challenges. Minimal guidance will likely be given from government, with its history of housing ministers that seem to leave as quickly as they arrive. Instead, the construction industry needs to take the bull by the horns and find its own way through – and relying on masonry as a material choice can go a long way to having the right answer.

Written by Phil Cox, Director, MPA Masonry