The Spring Statement: A Turning Point for Construction — But Execution Is Everything

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement marked a crucial moment for the construction industry, addressing long-standing barriers while signalling a commitment to growth and reform. As a business, we welcome this direction—not just because it impacts our industry, but because it affects the communities we serve and the customers we support every day.

One of the most encouraging elements of the statement was the government’s focus on planning reform. Delays and bottlenecks in the planning system have consistently been raised by our customers as a major hurdle to progress. Addressing these systemic issues could unlock significant potential—but success will depend on more than policy announcements. Overcoming local resistance, managing environmental constraints, and streamlining bureaucracy are essential. Progress will require proactive engagement with stakeholders across the board—and we’re ready to play our part in that process.

The £2 billion investment in affordable and social housing, announced by Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, is another welcome step in tackling the housing crisis. But funding alone won’t deliver the 18,000 homes promised by 2029. Effective execution—particularly in how this money is allocated and how quickly projects can get off the ground—will determine whether this target becomes a reality. To better support social housing developers and address their unique challenges, we have established a dedicated wienerberger Social Housing Sales team with extensive experience and knowledge in providing solutions for social housing projects, from design to delivery.  

Skills were another standout focus in the Spring Statement, with £600 million earmarked for training and technical education. With nearly a quarter of the construction workforce expected to retire in the next 10–15 years and 320,000 fewer workers in the workforce compared to 2019, the skills gap is one of the most pressing challenges our industry faces. Investment in training is a strong start, but it must be sustained and targeted—especially in key areas like green construction and modern building methods. Long-term collaboration between government, education providers, and industry will be essential to ensure the workforce is ready for the future.

To inspire the next generation of construction professionals and support skill development among future bricklayers and roofers, wienerberger actively contributes products and expertise to colleges, skills competitions, and community initiatives as part of our wider social impact strategy. We are proud to sponsor prestigious events like SkillBuild and The Guild of Bricklayers by providing high-quality bricks essential for these competitions. Additionally, we collaborate with colleges to offer factory tours and specialised training sessions. Our commitment extends to schools, where we host interactive workshops, giving students the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience in the industry.

In short, the Spring Statement sets out a bold vision for construction. Now the task is to turn ambition into delivery. Strategic planning reform, timely investment in skills, and meaningful collaboration can put the sector at the heart of economic recovery and sustainable growth.

As an industry—and as a business—we’re ready to step up, support these efforts, and help drive the transformation our sector, our customers, and our communities need.