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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nAcross the country, ready-mix volumes dropped 12% year-on-year, continuing a downward trend that has seen sales fall in seven of the past eight years.<\/p>\n
London was the hardest hit, with volumes plunging 32% over the past year as developers battle a stagnant housing market and planning bottlenecks for tall buildings under the BSR\u2019s Gateway 2 regime.<\/p>\n
The MPA said the slowdown had been made worse by weak commercial activity and delays to major infrastructure jobs, with only limited lifelines from ongoing public-sector schemes.<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\nSand and gravel sales dropped 3% in the third quarter, asphalt edged up 2.5% but remained below last year\u2019s levels, and mortar volumes rose just 1% \u2014 still almost 30% below pre-2023 output after two years of steep decline.<\/p>\n
Even large infrastructure projects have lost momentum following the HS2 reset and the scrapping of nine major road schemes, slashing demand for key materials.<\/p>\n The MPA warned that many producers have been forced to mothball sites, cut capacity and shed skilled workers just to stay afloat.<\/p>\n MPA executive chair Chris Leese said: \u201cAnnouncements about infrastructure and planning are all well and good, but for now they remain promises of \u2018jam tomorrow\u2019.<\/p>\n “Without urgent action that results in work on the ground now, the foundations of future delivery \u2014 investment, capacity and skilled labour \u2014 may not be there when the country needs them.\u201d<\/p>\n In its Autumn Budget submission to the Chancellor, the MPA is calling for a package of pro-growth measures. These include a new super-deduction for investment in plant and machinery, faster delivery of approved infrastructure projects, and a housing stimulus to get stalled developments moving.<\/p>\n The association is also pushing for relief from high energy costs, and a more strategic use of public procurement to favour UK-made materials and protect jobs.<\/p>\n The MPA warned that unless the Government acts quickly, the prolonged weakness in materials demand will drain investment and skills from the industry, threatening the UK\u2019s capacity to deliver future housing and infrastructure programmes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.constructionenquirer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2025-11-03-at-19.58.23.png\")
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