wienerberger responds to Chancellor’s Budget

Rachel Hughes, director of marketing at wienerberger UK and Ireland:

In Wednesday’s Budget the Chancellor said: ‘Brick by brick, we have helped build Britain’s economy - getting spades in the ground, cranes in the sky, and homes delivered where they’re needed most.’ But as the world’s largest producer of bricks, we have to ask: is it enough?

If the country truly wants to accelerate housing delivery and unlock growth, it will take more than ambition. It will take a planning system with capacity, a supply chain with confidence, and a clear, stable commitment to building. Good intentions alone won’t deliver the scale of building Britain needs - and has been promised.

We welcome the promise of further funding to increase planning capacity through a new skills offer. wienerberger has long maintained that planning reform is critical to kickstarting growth and stimulating development, particularly in housebuilding. With the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill set to gain Royal Assent this week, additional planning capacity could now be the key to reducing delays through a more streamlined, efficient process.

The Chancellor also committed to maintaining the £120bn of investment from July’s Spending Review, including £39bn for social housing in England, £3.9bn a year between 2026 and 2036. This represents a significant opportunity to finally translate intent into delivery.

wienerberger’s message is clear: we are building for what’s next. With resilient supply, sustainable materials, and long-term investment, we stand ready to support a stronger, more confident housebuilding sector - one capable of delivering the homes communities need, today and tomorrow.