The Property Report: Recovering brick by brick

Brick-by-brick Lancashire’s property sector is slowly starting to build its way back from the depths of recession. Residential development is leading the way.The Government’s Help to Buy initiative is now having a major positive impact on housebuilding across the county.

Surveys and forecasts all point to brighter times ahead with predictions that construction will continue to move out of its slump.

Claughton brickworks closed its doors in April 2010 with the loss of 28 jobs after 100 years of production.

Hanson says lead times for its aircrete blocks have gone from just four weeks a month ago to between 8-10 weeks now, and it is even asking customers not to stockpile bricks.

[quote-content]The big house builders are telling us their forward order books are looking really good. Help To Buy has really stimulated the new build market. The entire industry is under pressure from this hike in demand after five years of volume decline and we are looking to increase capacity as soon as we can.[/quote-content]

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Both commercial and infrastructure projects saw an increase in activity during the second quarter.

The word being used is “confidence”, although it is being uttered in hushed tones. And there are still challenges including funding for projects.

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[quote-author]Simon Rubinsohn, chief economist at RICS[/quote-author]

Despite that, regeneration projects are moving forward across Lancashire, including a £13m student accommodation development in Preston that’s looking to spark the wider regeneration of the city’s Friargate area.

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The Property Report can be read in full in the latest issue.