CPA Weekly Notes – 27th June 2025

Issue No. 1157, 27th June 2025 FOR MEMBERS ONLY

Association Activities

CPA Response to the 10 year Industrial Strategy
Peter Caplehorn, Chief Executive of the Construction Products Association, said:“We welcome the renewed commitment to a long-term industrial strategy. The strategy must not only be ambitious—it must be consistent, clear, and rooted in real engagement with industry. Delivery is everything, and we look forward to working with government to make this vision a reality.” The CPA particularly appreciates the proposed consultation on industrial electricity pricing and plans to increase rebates for eligible manufacturers from 60% to 90%. These measures could significantly improve competitiveness for UK-based producers, provided they are rolled out effectively and equitably across sectors.

CPA Response to the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy
The CPA Economics Director, Professor Noble Francis said “We welcome the 10-year infrastructure strategy and the government’s ambitions for the UK’s critical infrastructure needs over the next decade, with its intention to attract private investment in a more sustainable and realistic way than previous PFI schemes. However, in order for this strategy to be useful for the construction supply chain and help make the case at board level for major investments in skills, capacity and more efficient methods to deliver the ambitious infrastructure work within the Strategy, industry will need to know when these projects will realistically start and how long they are expected to take. This essential information will hopefully be included in the government’s infrastructure pipeline, which is scheduled for publication next month.”
Weekly Calendar of Meetings

Peter Caplehorn, CPA Chief Executive, will chair meetings of the CPA’s Trade Association Council (TAC) and the Affiliates Council; will meet with the Secretaries of State for both the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to discuss the potential impact of EPR packaging and waste policies on CPA members; meet with directors at the MHCLG, OPSS and Building Safety Regulator to discuss product issues; will attend the third workshop of the Floodproof Review; will join a meeting of MHCLG’s Industry Consultative Group; and will attend the Construction Leadership Council’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing Summit.
Professor Noble Francis, CPA Economics Director, will present to meetings of both the TAC and Affiliates Council.
Jeff May, CPA Deputy Chief Executive, will present to meetings of both the TAC and Affiliates Council, and represent the CPA at a meeting of Make UK’s Affiliate Members.
Jane Thornback, CPA Sustainability Policy Advisor, will join Peter in the meeting with the Secretaries of State for both the Department for Business and Trade and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs to discuss the potential impact of EPR packaging and waste policies on CPA members; and will attend a regular meeting of the Green Construction Board’s Resources, Waste and Circular Economy Group.
Hanna Clarke, Digital and Policy Manager, will have a variety of meetings with industry colleagues and civil servants around competence.
Duncan King, CPA Senior Technical Manager, will join Peter in the third workshop of the Floodproof Review.
Rob Lee, CPA Senior External Affairs Manager will be attending the hearing of the House of Lords committee on the Gateway 2 delays.

Economics Update

CPA Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update
The latest weekly update is available here, including:

ONS UK Construction Output (April 2025)
S&P Global UK Construction PMI (May 2025)
ONS UK Construction Employment (Q1 2025)

The CPA’s Summer Forecasts will be published on Monday, 28th July. The CPA’s Spring Forecasts were published on Monday, 28th April and are available for members to download from the CPA Website. Also note that the ONS has suspended its monthly UK building materials price data (and other producer price data) due to concerns about its reliability, which the CPA has been highlighting since the impacts of the energy and price spikes in Spring 2022.

CPA Briefing Paper: The Impacts of U.S. Tariffs
Following strong demand from members and government alike, the CPA’s economics team has published a briefing paper on the ‘Impacts of U.S. Tariffs’. This document will be revised as the situation develops, and made available to CPA members every Friday with our Weekly UK Economic and Construction Update (see above). To receive this document via email every Friday please contact noble.francis@constructionproducts.org.uk; alternatively, you can click here to read it now.

Government Update

Government’s Industrial Strategy
The Government has published its Industrial Strategy white paper. Construction products are well represented and are listed as a ‘foundation sector’. The headlines are as follows:

The Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan has been published. Construction manufacturing listed as a ‘Foundation Sector’.
Priority sectors within the AMP are advanced materials (where construction product manufacturers should be interested), auto, aero, agri-tech, space and batteries.
The £3bn investment announcement for Advanced Manufacturing is linked to the AMP.
DBT says there is good news in the plan re skills and they have been negotiating with DfE for funding for engineering skills training.

The CPA have responded. Our press release can be read here. For further information please contact rob.lee@constructionproducts.org.uk.

House of Lords call for Evidence on the Building Safety Regulator
The House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee, chaired by Baroness Taylor of Bolton, has launched an inquiry into building safety regulation, with a particular focus on the work of the Building Safety Regulator, which was established following the Building Safety Act 2022. Concerns have been raised by Industry that delays in approvals by the BSR have slowed down the delivery of new buildings and homes. The Committee invites interested individuals and organisations to submit evidence here by 31 August 2025.

Govt Opens Consultation on Improving Integrity of Voluntary Carbon Markets
Government seeks to clarify and test their proposed policy and governance framework for helping to ensure the integrity of voluntary carbon and nature markets. Find the consultation here, deadline is 10 July 2025. For further details contact Jane Thornback.

Govt Opens Consultation on the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
This is a technical consultation running until 3rd July to get feedback on the drafting of the primary legislation of the UK CBAM. The purpose of a CBAM is to place a carbon price on specified goods imported to the UK from sectors that are at risk of carbon leakage. The aim being to protect UK manufacturing. Find details here. For further details contact Jane Thornback.wide. The call for evidence is available at: Men’s Health Strategy for England: call for evidence – GOV.UK. Further information is available in the government’s press notice.

Govt Opens Consultation on Improving Integrity of Voluntary Carbon Markets
Government seeks to clarify and test their proposed policy and governance framework for helping to ensure the integrity of voluntary carbon and nature markets. Find the consultation here, deadline is 10 July 2025. For further details contact Jane Thornback.

Govt Opens Consultation on the UK Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)
This is a technical consultation running until 3rd July to get feedback on the drafting of the primary legislation of the UK CBAM. The purpose of a CBAM is to place a carbon price on specified goods imported to the UK from sectors that are at risk of carbon leakage. The aim being to protect UK manufacturing. Find details here. For further details contact Jane Thornback.

Industry News

Survey re Industrial Strategy Reactions
The CPA is a member of Make UK, the umbrella trade organisation representing all UK manufacturing, and following this week’s Government announcement about the new Industrial Strategy, Make UK is running a flash survey to gather initial reactions. It’s short at only 8 questions and very high-level and can be answered in a matter of minutes.
This survey is an important piece for both ourselves and for feedback to Government. In the first instance, this is naturally one of the largest policy wins our industry has seen in recent times so it’s important to measure how sentiment reflects this, and secondly, some of the most important announcements are due to be meted out consultatively with Government over the coming months, therefore member feedback is critical.
Please help the industry bring back to Government the much-needed feedback following these announcements, as Make UK and the CPA continue to shape the impact of the Industrial Strategy in the coming weeks and months. Our sector’s feedback now will shape how beneficial these interventions will be, for example, how much energy cost support the sector ultimately receives.
Take the survey here: Industrial Strategy 2025 – Manufacturers’ initial reactions Survey
For more detail about the announcement, and to see Make UK’s initial comments, see here : Government launches Industrial Strategy: Make UK’s reaction | Make UK

Former CRASH CEO Awarded OBE
CPA members have generously supported CRASH at our annual Autumn Lunches for over two decades and will appreciate learning that Francesca Roberts, the former chief executive of construction charity CRASH, received the Honour of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in His Majesty The King’s Birthday Honours List 2025, announced on Saturday 14 June. Francesca was responsible for leading CRASH from 2007 until her retirement in May 2024, and received the Honour for her dedicated services to Homelessness and Hospices.

BSI Invitation to Join CB/3 Committee
The British Standards Institution is an Associate of the CPA and would like to extend an invitation across our membership for any persons interested in joining its BSI CB/3 committee. CB/3 is responsible for reviewing market demands and regulatory drivers for the safe, compliant, and efficient use of construction products. The committee examines the interaction between the Building Safety Act, UK Construction Products Regulations, and EU Construction Products Regulation, seeking alignment with safety standards to enable the free movement of construction products within the EU single market. Horizontal functions include:

CB/3 facilitates the timely exchange of information on regulatory matters related to construction products between UK Technical Committees, stakeholders, industry, government, and regulators. This allows updates on the UK and EU regulatory landscape to be communicated clearly, accurately, and efficiently to all relevant parties.
CB/3 provides guidance on the UK Construction Products Regulations and EU Construction Products Regulation, advising where needed to help UK Technical Committees align their work with the latest regulatory requirements, assisting committees in navigating regulatory changes and maintaining compliance with both UK and EU standards.

Excluded is the responsibility for fire resistance and reaction to fire tests for building products, including test methods for external fire exposure of roofs and facades, is outside the scope of CB/3 and falls under the remit of FSH/0 and its associated committees. However, information exchange between CB/3 and FSH/0 is necessary. Any interested parties should contact Tom Stack, BSI Standards Development Manager directly on Tom.Stack@bsigroup.com.

HSE Newsletter
The latest Building Safety Regulator Bulletin has been published and can accessed here. It includes articles on Building Assessment Certificates, The Government’s position on roof top gardens and local authority guidance on Multi Disciplinary Teams (MDT).

Building Products & Services – 2025 sector insights
BDO’s latest sector insights publication is now available to download here. Produced in association with the CPA, this provides a detailed review of M&A activity, alongside valuable views on major market themes from industry leaders. Alongside the CPA, key contributors this year include GK Strategy, the Property Institute, Epwin Group, SDS Infrastructure, Jet, InstaGroup, Tetra Consulting, Plastecowood and H.I.G. Capital, with commentary on the economic and policy landscape, housebuilding, regulation, infrastructure, water, data centres, home energy, sustainability and the circular economy.
The team at BDO examines UK trends, activity and valuations by sub-sector, the private equity landscape (with views from H.I.G. Capital), current deal considerations, case studies, and views on the sector from our BDO colleagues around the world. If you’re thinking of embarking on M&A or would like to discuss any of the issues driving change and value in the market, please get in touch with john.stephan@bdo.co.uk or susannah.perkins@bdo.co.uk.

2050 Connected Conference (1-2 July, London)
BEAMA (British Electrotechnical and Allied Manufacturers’ Association) and the Lighting Industry Association are offering CPA members free places at an exclusive industry event that brings together manufacturers, suppliers, and sustainability leaders to accelerate industrial decarbonisation across the supply chain. This is an opportunity to engage directly with peers and partners on critical topics such as embodied carbon measurement, Scope 3 emissions reporting, and supplier collaboration strategies. Through expert-led discussions and interactive sessions, you’ll gain practical insights into measuring and reducing emissions, aligning net-zero strategies with Scope 3 targets, and engaging stakeholders to drive meaningful change. This event offers a platform to network, share best practices, and inform your net-zero transition planning. For more information click here and to register your place please click here.st practices, and inform your net-zero transition planning. For more information click here and to register your place please click here.

The Installer Show (24-26 June 2025)
The CPA and many of our members are supporting The Installer Show at the NEC Birmingham from 24-26 June, and we encourage others to attend. The Installer Show has gone from strength to strength over the past years and is highly recommended for its industry representation and engagement as well as a topical speaking agenda. To register, click here.

CPA in the News

CPA welcomes government’s 10-Year Industrial Strategy
The Construction Products Association (CPA) has expressed strong support for the UK Government’s newly launched 10 year Industrial Strategy. Hot on the heals of a Spending Review, and an Infrastruture Strategy, the government has release its long-awaited Industrial Strategy for the next 10 years. It purports to set out a “new economic approach to backing the UK’s strengths, with ambitious plans for eight high-growth sectors”.
Builder Merchant News | 23/06/2025 |Online
also in: Agg-Net, Specification Online, Roofing today

This ‘cheap as chips’ FTSE 250 stock looks like a bargain to consider right now!
Today, the kitchen landscape seems to be shifting. The Construction Products Association (CPA) has recently issued its latest projections for the British repair, maintenance, and improvement sector – the second largest in the UK construction industry.
Yahoo Finance | 23/06/2025 |Online

First timber import growth in Q1 since 2021, figures show
The latest Construction Products Association (CPA) forecast suggests that the UK new housebuilding and housing repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) markets will grow over the next three years. The Spring CPA forecast has reduced its growth rate since its previous Winter forecast, but despite the uncertainty, growth of 2.8% is still forecast in 2025, with a more than 4% increase for 2026 and 2027.
Specification online | 20/06/2025 |Online

Rachel Reeves to set out 10-year UK infrastructure plan
Noble Francis, economics director at the Construction Products Association, a trade body, said the spending review had confirmed a 17 per cent cut to roads funding over the life of this parliament. “The government keeps making more announcements on improving the state of road infrastructure, but once you dig below the headlines, the reality is markedly different,” he added. “Annual funding for our crumbling roads and bridges is being cut and the use of private finance on key projects may prove an expensive bet for taxpayers.”
FT | 16/06/2025 | Online
also in: Les Actualites, WDC.TVNews,

Brick by brick: UK builders gear up for post-pandemic boom despite global gloom
Noble Francis, chief economist at the Construction Products Association, says brick deliveries are a useful proxy for housebuilding starts, where he anticipates a 5% expansion this year and 7% in 2026. Brick production was up by 31.4% in February, before slipping back to an 8% annual rise March, possibly because there is still a surplus of 459 million bricks in stock, according to the Department for Business and Trade.
Guardian Online | 11/06/2025 | Online
also in: ExecReview, Tribune International, Yahoo Finance UK, Les ActualitesLBC News – Comprehensive Spending Review
The Construction Products Association effectively said seeing is believing and moreover that sometimes Government spending plans can get reviewed, paused and cancelled later on.
LBC | 11/06/2025 | Broadcast