The UK construction industry consumes some 400mt of construction materials annually and accounts for nearly 30% of UK road freight. Home produced material for construction is significant accounting for 20% of the UK’s manufactured goods at the same time as exporting 10% of output.

However, in the last decade imported building material to the UK nearly doubled and now represents over 25% of all construction materials/products used in the UK.

Should we be reducing our reliance on imported building materials? Is it possible to produce more with less in the UK construction industry? Where will the materials required to retrofit our existing building stock in the UK come from?

Chair:         Dr Scott Steedman CBE – BRE Global

Speakers:      Jane Thornback, Construction Products Association


                   Gillian Hobbs, BRE


                   Hugh Mulcahey, Buro Happold


                   John White, CEO Timber Trade Federation

Downloads: Debate notes (pdf)