Darlington construction firm talks of supply shortages

As the UK comes out of lockdown many people are starting on new construction projects meaning the industry is busier than ever, but shortages in timber and steel are causing problems.

Yesterday, the Northern Echo reported on North East businesses and industry leaders meeting to resolve the shortage.

The Construction Alliance North East is working with the North East Procurement Organisation (NEPO) and CECA to address the worsening materials shortages crisis that has blighted the construction sector in 2021.

Wharton Construction, based in Darlington, is just one of many businesses having to delay projects due to a material supply shortage in the UK.

Matthew Wharton owner of Wharton Construction said: “It affected our business since February when steel prices went up and up.

“More recently, everyday things like timber have shot up price as well.

“It is affecting a few of our larger projects that require steel.

“Steel can take up to five weeks to get here and it has meant that a few projects have been pushed back.

“There needs to be an urgent review of the situation and what we need to do.

“I think the government are messing about a bit, we’ve had Brexit and we’ve had Covid, what we need now is to focus at home.

“A lot of economies around the world have bounced back from Covid because they could make things at home or buy it cheaper. China started buying a lot of steel at prices the UK could not afford.

“In the USA they could survive because they could produce a lot of material at home and don’t rely on imports.

“A long-term solution to this problem is to produce things at home so that we don’t need to import.

“It’s the importing that is causing the shortage of supply, if it was here in the first place, we might not have this problem.

“In the short term, getting more drivers on the road and getting them delivering again.

“There are more jobs to do than ever, we are busier than ever, but no one has got the supplies.”