News

Building materials manufacturers Hanson are to open a new £50 million brick factory at Measham in Leicestershire.

The UK construction industry will see its worst fall in output ever this year - 12%, according to the Construction Products Association's latest set of forecasts. Any significant positive growth is not expected until 2012.

Heating and plumbing equipment was stolen in a night-time raid on the Graham plumbers merchant branch in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Friday.

Alan Ball, md plumbing and heating merchant PTS has persuaded two of his key suppliers to join him in a 26 mile run round the streets of London later this month.

North east independent builders merchants JT Dove have redeveloped their Stockton branch, spending £1.5m on a new site.

The National Buying Group (NBG LLP) of independent builders merchants is expected to implement changes to its buying and management disciplines shortly, after a brainstorming session among a number of key members.

A General Meeting of Wolseley plc shareholders held yesterday agreed the proposal for a rights issue and capital reorganisation.

Kevin Cubbage is standing down as chairman of BMF, the trade association for builders merchants and building material suppliers in October and a successor is being sought.

All heavyside manufacturers saw sales fall in the last quarter of 2008, according to the latest Ernst and Young/ Construction Products Association Activity Barometer.

Employees at builders merchant group Travis Perkins have raised over £150,000 for learning disability charity Mencap over the last year.