News

Independent analysis of trends in aggregates market since 1990, and the effects of the Landfill Tax and the Aggregates Levy (AGL) have revealed serious market distortions.

Independent analysis of trends in aggregates market since 1990, and the effects of the Landfill Tax and the Aggregates Levy (AGL) have revealed serious market distortions.

The analysis by BDS Marketing Research also found the AGL did not have any discernible effect in decreasing primary aggregate use.

Even more alarmingly, UK pre-cast concrete manufacturing has been put at a competitive disadvantage by imported concrete products, which have more than quadrupled since the Levy was introduced.

Although imported aggregates have to pay the Levy the aggregates within imported concrete products do not.

There is also evidence of increased road miles for Levy exempt aggregates - with an increased carbon footprint - and growing stockpiles of quarry by-products which can no longer compete in a skewed market.

The BDS study also highlights the low earning potential of the Levy as the public sector uses over half of all aggregates consumed. The output of quarries has fallen dramatically due to the financial crisis and even supplies of grit for ice-bound roads have to pay the Levy.

Commenting on the findings, British Aggregates Association Director Robert Durward said the publication of this report is timely as the industry awaits the long overdue decision from the EU General Court.

Despite the higher Court ruling against HM Treasury in December 2008, the Government seems intent on collecting every last penny from this deceitful and damaging stealth tax, he added.

Projects that reflect innovation and excellence through the use of concrete and ready-mixed concrete could be in line for a prestigious award.

Projects that reflect innovation and excellence through the use of concrete and ready-mixed concrete could be in line for a prestigious award.

Entries are now being accepted for the 42nd Concrete Society Awards, with the winners to be announced at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square on November 12, 2010.

The awards categories cover new structures -including three subcategories: Civil Engineering, Building and Concrete Performance - together with a category for Mature Structures.
 
Carol Wood from The Concrete Society explained that the awards are recognised as one of the most prestigious within the construction industry and generate extensive publicity for all companies shortlisted.

The diverse range of projects that have won awards in previous years reflect the versatility of concrete, the most widely used building material in the world.

Winning projects have included breweries, bridges, grandstands, libraries, schools, sculptures and even a cocoon structure.

Wood went on to say the sheer flexibility in the material application of concrete is apparent and worthy of the excellent coverage and promotion the awards receive.

The Society is always delighted with the exposure given to project teams that enter and it is very excited at the prospects for 2010, she added.
 
The closing date for entries is April 9, 2010 and further details are available by telephoning +44 (0)1276 607144 or by emailing c.wood@concrete.org.uk.

The UK could soon face the prospect of social unrest if the Government does not address the shortage of homes in the country, according to a senior figure in the housebuilding sector.

The UK could soon face the prospect of social unrest if the Government does not address the shortage of homes in the country, according to a senior figure in the housebuilding sector.

Steve Morgan, executive chairman of Redrow is reported in the media as saying  there is massive pent up demand for home ownership and something has to be done to solve the housing crisis.

The man who founded Redrow in 1974 said that the Government needed to help ease the land market, because landowners are not selling.

He explained that vendors perceive land to be cheap at the moment, so they won't sell. The government needs to release some of its holdings or encourage the banks to sell some of the land they have taken on, otherwise things will get very difficult.

He went on to say that mortgage availability was a significant hurdle for any sustained and meaningful recovery in market. Although the lending had been out of control before the downturn, he said he would welcome the return of 90-95% mortgages.

The housebuilding sector, which is a significant market for ready-mixed concrete and cement products - has been one of the worst affected industries during the downturn.

Cement is well known for having a wide range of uses within the construction industry, but scientists are still coming up with novel applications for the versatile aggregate product.

Cement is well known for having a wide range of uses within the construction industry, but scientists are still coming up with novel applications for the versatile aggregate product.

Recent media reports claim that Scientists at Leeds University's School of Civil Engineering have embarked on a £100,000 project involving the use of cement to make bullet-proof vests.

Dr Philip Purnell is reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post as saying that cement could be a cheaper alternative to the alumina that body armour and bullet-proof vests are currently manufactured from.

He went on to explain that the new concrete vests will be made from ultra-strong cement with recycled carbon filters, and will be designed for protecting non-military personnel.

This cement-based body armour would not only create a whole new market, but it would take some of the pressure off the demand for high-spec alumina models. This would mean that people like soldiers who really need such equipment can get it, he added.

Dr Purnell is now trying to put together a team of engineers, scientists and researchers to help with the further development of the project, called Cementing the Future.

Bad weather during January has contributed to an 8% decline in the value of construction projects started in the first month of 2010, when compared to the same period last year.

Bad weather during January has contributed to an 8% decline in the value of construction projects started in the first month of 2010, when compared to the same period last year.

According to the Glenigan Index, project starts were delayed by snow, with activity in the non-residential sector being particularly weak due to low confidence in the private commercial and industrial sectors.

However there was some good news for the cement and ready-mixed concrete industry, with tentative signs that market conditions are now stabilising.

A rise in government funded work since April 2009 has partially offset the impact of weak private sector investment.

Commenting on the outlook for the non-residential sector, Allan Wilen, economics director at Glenigan, said the forecast increase in private sector projects will be offset by government spending cuts, leading to a slow and fragile recovery over the next two years.

In contrast housing projects recovered well during the autumn, peaking at 27% higher by value year on year.

However, new housing projects were particularly affected by the bad weather resulting in the value of projects starting on site in January being 1% lower than the same time last year, despite an increase in social housing projects.

The pick-up in project starts during the autumn indicates that housebuilders are preparing to capitalise on the anticipated modest improvement in market conditions, Wilen added.

An organisation representing manufacturers of ready-mix concrete and cement products has called on the Government to resist moves to increase its commitment to a 30% carbon reduction target until further commitments are made by other major economies.

An organisation representing manufacturers of ready-mix concrete and cement products has called on the Government to resist moves to increase its commitment to a 30% carbon reduction target until further commitments are made by other major economies.

The call from the Mineral Products Association (MPA) came shortly before international governments declared their domestic carbon reduction commitments under the 2009 Copenhagen Accord.

Dr Pal Chana, MPA executive director cement and lime, said the Government should stick to its current EU policy commitment when the issue is debated at the European Council meeting in February, unless other countries agree to fall in line.

The EU has taken a leadership role in climate change and has adopted the ambitious unilateral target of a 20% reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases by 2020 based on 1990 levels.

Late last year, the European Council reiterated the EU's conditions to move to a 30% reduction. These are based on the commitment of other developed countries to comparable emission reductions with an adequate contribution by developing countries in accordance with their responsibilities and respective capabilities.

These conditions have so far clearly neither been met by the principal emitters of the other developed countries nor by developing countries, said Dr Chana.

The UK the cement industry has already taken a number of steps to minimise its carbon footprint, including massive investment in process efficiency; significant increases in the use of waste-derived fuels, and increasing the supply of blended cements that contain less energy-intensive material.

Taken together, these measures have seen the UK cement industry reduce its CO2 emissions by 40% between 1990 and 2008.