News

James Latham, the  270-year-old British timber and panel products distributor, has chosen Alzheimer’s Society as its official charity partner for 2026/27, after a company-wide vote across the company’s network of depots and offices in the UK and Ireland. The new partnership formalises and extends a relationship that is already making a …

Building materials supplier Heidelberg Materials UK has agreed planning conditions with Somerset Council to reopen Westdown quarry, near Frome. The 160 million tonne limestone quarry  has been dormant since the late 1980s. Site preparations are now set to get underway this autumn ahead of Westdown quarry’s scheduled reopening in the …

Builders merchants trade association, the Builders Merchants Federation wants Andy Burnham to make housing an immediate priority  now he is Prime Minister.  BMF CEO John Newcomb said: “The confirmation today of Andy Burnham MP as the Prime Minister should provide fresh impetus to revive the housing market to Get Britain Building …

A 145-year-old timber merchant, Silverstone-based Linnell Bros, has made significant investments across the business, adding a cross-cut line and a double-ended tenoner to its mill, as well as a new 7.5-tonne truck and a 26-tonne HIAB lorry to its delivery fleet. The new machinery has been installed to improve accuracy …

Branches of builders merchants RGB Building Supplies, BuildIt, CRS Building Supplies, and Grant & Stone Build, part of IBMG, have launched the Community Landscaping Challenge, offering £2,000 worth of landscaping materials to support a project that will make a real difference in their area. It mirrors a similar challenge launched …

Plumbing and drainage manufacturer Wavin is taking its roadshow WaVan back on the road to visit 25 City Plumbing branches across the UK. The tour started in Chorley on 1st July and runs until the end of September. A second phase will cover branches in Scotland later in the year. It …

Timber supplier Premier Forest Products is to restarting timber operations at its 10-acre Croespenmaen site following the closure of SDL Sawmills. The phased restart will see a number of former SDL employees return to work as operations are progressively re-established. Premier Forest, which leases the site, and sub-let it to SDL, …

Worcester Bosch is celebrating its 1 millionth Greenstar 4000 boiler coming off the tracks at its distribution centre. First launched in 2021, Worcester Bosch credits the success of the Greenstar 4000 to the merchant and installer communities, whose continuous hard work, feedback and trust have supported the range. Manufactured at the …

Ventilation manufacturer Airflow have announced a new partnership with bathroom distributor Ideal Bathrooms. Under the distribution partnership, Ideal Bathrooms will stock and distribute a selection of Airflow ventilation products through its showroom network nationwide, making it easier for bathroom retailers, merchants, installers and contractors to source ventilation products alongside bathroom products from a …

Northumberland plumbing and heating engineer, Rob Wilson of Gas Wizard, is heading to Miami after winning a World Cup trip thanks to Polypipe Building Products and Plumb Centre. Wilson won the experience after purchasing PolyPlumb Enhanced plastic fittings through his local Plumb Centre, and entering a competition via PlumbPro – …