The BBC said it best: \u201cShortages seem to be the only thing we\u2019re not running out of in the UK in 2021.\u201d Interruptions in the supply chain have negatively affected every industry, from cars and technology to food and fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, the construction industry hasn\u2019t been immune from these shortages. In fact,\u00a0homebuilding.co.uk\u00a0<\/a>suggests that \u201cthe construction materials shortage has led to the price of materials rising in each of the last 12 months\u201d an issue that has affected both construction companies and property owners alike.<\/p>\n\n The issue is exacerbated when combined with site theft and vandalism. According to a survey conducted by the Chartered Institute of Building, \u201c92% of respondents were directly affected by petty crime<\/a>, with 21% stating that their construction sites were robbed on a weekly basis. The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) has reported a\u00a050% surge in construction site crime rates since the coronavirus lockdown.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n These supply shortages, combined with the frequency in which building sites and construction sites experience theft and loss is the \u2018perfect storm\u2019 for potentially devastating project delays and expenses when attempting to replace what was taken.\u00a0Site managers must be more vigilant than ever when protecting valuable site assets.\u00a0 <\/b>Read more about construction site thefts here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The UK has been hit with a disastrous combination of lockdowns due to the pandemic, workplace restrictions, border closures and Brexit fallout causing noticeable supply chain disruption and crippling shortages of materials\/commodities both domestically and internationally. In some cases (certainly in the case of the outgoing petrol shortage) the shortages have been compounded by \u2018panic-buying\u2019 from the public. Further to this, the UK saw a large surge in construction projects either starting or resuming once the last lockdown was lifted as the UK economy lurched back into action. Lastly, the shortage in HGV drivers as a result of Brexit only adds insult to injury.<\/p>\n Building sites and (vacant) properties are particularly susceptible to \u2018opportunistic thieves.\u2019 Given the shortages, contractors are discovering just how difficult it is to replace tools, timber and supplies at this time as a result of theft. But which items will site managers \/ owners struggle to replace in the event of a breach in their construction site security?<\/p>\n As reported by the BBC<\/a>, \u201cthe price of timber has risen sharply with builders struggling to get supplies, as post-lockdown construction and DIY projects create huge demand.\u201d Timber is an essential component to a number of projects \u2013 private housing, RM&I and infrastructure sectors need softwood to complete key projects \u2013 and with the price of timber jumping over\u00a023% in the last month<\/a>\u00a0alone it could be extremely costly to replace should it be stolen from a site. Prices have increased by 50-75% since the lockdown lifted. In fact, tradesmen are reporting that projects are having to be requoted, with the original price of the project proving uneconomical due to rising building material prices.<\/p>\n Further to this, \u201cONS data reveals which building materials are seeing the biggest rises in price and delivery time.\u201d Builders merchant news reported the Top 10 Building Materials Increasing in Price Year-on-Year October 2021:<\/p>\n If any of these materials were lifted from your (empty) site, contractors can only expect long and expensive delays in trying to replace them. Deadlines for projects can be pushed back considerably leading to expensive consequences.<\/p>\n Contractors and project managers are also struggling to replace stolen plant, machinery and tools on the back of a post Covid surge in demand, leading to long purchase and hire lead times that have never been seen before in the industry. These increased lead times are also in part due to manufacturers reporting problems in sourcing steel for machines which is very likely to cause large delays to projects that rely on this expensive and in-demand machinery.<\/p>\n This shortage is also increasing the demand for second-hand machinery with sellers reporting that machinery is selling for higher than originally purchased in the previous year.<\/p>\n It comes as no surprise that since the lockdown lifted back in Spring 2021 there has been strong correlation reported between the unprecedented surge in demand for plant machinery and a continued rise in construction site thefts. For example, on the 25th of July, \u00a3100k worth of tools material and machinery were lifted from a\u00a0building site in Cambridge.<\/a>\u00a0It appears that these economic challenges have resulted in an increase in thefts, putting contractors and site managers on high alert.<\/p>\n The use of plant machinery, tools and equipment such as dumpers, excavators, loaders, compressors, generators, cranes, warehouse trucks & forklifts, and trailers are, of course, key for day to day construction activities. The absence of these machines would cause a project to grind to a half almost instantly.<\/p>\n There are a number of other functions that are key to the smooth running of a construction site or management of (vacant) property. These other functions are seemingly small but have been seriously affected by shortages. For example, cars and vans play a key role in the transportation of both staff and materials. Reports of a chip shortage have been widespread, with construction companies struggling to acquire the vehicles necessary for smooth operations. Vehicle theft is one of the most widely reported crimes \u2013 so project managers and contractors cannot afford to lose vehicles at this time.<\/p>\n Luckily, there are a number of key security protocols to implement to protect your vacant property or construction site from expensive losses due to material and machinery shortages. For example:<\/p>\nAn Increase in Theft and Vandalism<\/h2>\n
But why is the UK running low?<\/h2>\n
Are construction sites more vulnerable than ever?<\/h2>\n
Timber and building materials<\/h2>\n
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Construction plant<\/h2>\n
Other Shortages<\/h2>\n
So how can you prevent breaches and their consequences?<\/h2>\n
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