We need materials security to deliver infrastructure plans

The UK has ambitious plans for infrastructure delivery, but we need to ensure a stable supply of domestically made cement to make ambitions a reality, Dr Diana Casey, Executive Director at the Mineral Products Association (MPA), has argued.

Writing for Building magazine, Dr Casey outlines the demand that the government’s 10-year infrastructure strategy is expected to create for essential materials like cement. However, UK producers face significant competitiveness challenges which has led to imports of cement tripling over the past 20 years. Importing materials risks the delivery of major infrastructure, potentially adding time and cost to projects.

Dr Casey suggests a preference for using UK-made cement on these schemes would provide surety of supply for the construction industry, support domestic growth and protect well-paid regional jobs in cement manufacturing.

Read the Building article: www.building.co.uk/comment/labour-must-shore-up-materials-security-or-fall-short-of-infrastructure-strategy-ambitions/5136473.article