UK housebuilding plans fall down on lack of bricks and bricklayers

Federation of Master Builders puts dearth of supplies and tradespeople down to kilns being mothballed and workers laid off during recent recession

Increasing shortages of bricklayers and bricks threaten to undermine ambitious housebuilding plans laid out by politicians ahead of the election, a leading construction industry group has warned.

All the main parties have sought to assure voters they will tackle Britain's chronic housing shortage but the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) says its members are already struggling to get the skills and materials they need to meet demand.