One of the leading advocates for the UK construction materials sector has put forward a list of measures to the UK government to better support the industry.
The Mineral Products Association (MPA) has urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to include the measures in her upcoming budget in November. The association has revealed a series of “pro-growth” measures in its Autumn Budget 2025 submission and letter to the Chancellor.
These suggestions include a super deduction which would support investment in new plant and machinery. It follows the previous super deduction method from 2021 to 2023, which was welcomed by MPA members. The budget submission also calls for improvements to infrastructure delivery, increased funding for local road maintenance, support for carbon capture projects, and changes to procurement processes to support the local quarrying and aggregates sector.
“The first rule of growth is not to shrink, but that’s the very real risk our industry is having to deal with right now. Our members are telling us that they are facing really tough times, and our data reflect this too,” MPA executive director Chris Leese said.
“The Chancellor has said a lot of the right things on regulation and investment, but so far it hasn’t changed the reality on the ground for essential businesses in the real world. To have any chance of delivering on its ambitions, this Government needs to act decisively, at pace and with significant impact.”
It comes after the MPA noted that UK concrete sales have reached a six-decade low while decreases have also been noted in the sales of aggregates, asphalt and other mineral products. In its latest sector forecast, the MPA suggested the sector may not see a bounce back in sales until 2027.
“Hopes of a 2025 rebound have vanished after weak sales so far this year and a sharp fall in industry confidence. Aggregates and concrete markets are enduring their toughest spell since 2008, with plants mothballed and capacity cut. Recovery now looks distant, not expected until 2027, and only if investment confidence returns and construction projects start moving,” MPA economic affairs director Aurelie Delannoy said.
“The Chancellor now faces a clear choice: back construction and its supply chain by supporting investment and avoiding further tax rises, or risk holding back recovery when confidence is already hanging by a thread. We cannot tax our way into growth.”
