黑洞社区

UK brickmaker Michelmersh is to reopen its five UK brickworks following a temporary shutdown due to the coronavirus lockdown, the firm said today.

In a sign of confidence that the UK housebuilders will be able to get back on to sites in May, the UK鈥檚 fourth largest brickmaker said today that it will 鈥渢his week begin an orderly and safe recommencement of production across its plants鈥�.

Cenkos analyst Kevin Cammack said the announcement was 鈥渓ight at the end of the tunnel鈥�.

He added: 鈥淭his is a significant statement in the wider context of the construction industry, most specifically housebuilding.

鈥淚t demonstrates that the building materials manufacturers are gearing back up on production which is an essential element in the supply chain and suggests to me that a May return to site working (for new housing sites) is feasible.鈥�

Michelmersh announced nearly four weeks ago it was suspending all production following the imposition of draconian lockdown measures by the UK government to halt the spread of coronavirus.

It said it had undertaken a health and safety review during the period, and would be instituting new working practices at its kilns once they were re-opened, in order 鈥渢o keep staff as safe as possible鈥�, that 鈥渕eet and exceed government guidelines鈥�.

The decision by brickmakers to shut production has contributed to the decision by many housebuilders to shut sites, with many anecdotal reports of difficulties in obtaining construction materials. Last week 黑洞社区 reported that nearly three quarters of all UK housing sites are currently on hold due to coronavirus.

At the start of the month the brickmaker said the impact of the coronavirus shutdown was potentially so severe as to cast a 鈥渕aterial uncertainty鈥� over whether the firm will be able to continue trading for the next 12 months, despite being in a 鈥渟trong鈥� financial position.

The government has promised to review the current 鈥渓ockdown鈥� measures by 7 May, though in recent days ministers have played down the prospects of any imminent lifting of social distancing restrictions.