£1.5M investment in state-of-the-art machinery

York Handmade Brick Company has invested £1.5 million in brand-new machinery which will transform how the company makes bricks.

York Handmade, who are now the UK’s leading small independent brickmaker, is confident this investment will open a new chapter in the company’s illustrious history.

The first bricks from the new plant will be available in March.

David Armitage, chairman of York Handmade, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, commented: “Over the years, we have undertaken significant technological improvements, culminating in this £1.5 million overhaul and renewal of our manufacturing process, which will speed up production, facilitate two brand-new products and increase efficiency.

“This is a transformational move, by far the biggest and most significant in our history. Our revolutionary new manufacturing line will combine three different types of brick - the Handmade Style, as currently produced, together with Water Struck and Pressed Bricks.
“Most of the Water Struck Bricks, which are currently very popular in London, are imported, so we are fulfilling an important demand and supporting the sustainability agenda. We have an impressive track record in London, with iconic projects across the capital, and we can now build on this.

“More generally, this investment will enable us to manufacture high-quality, UK-made bricks for many years to come and it reflects our commitment to the brick industry and the astounding architectural projects using bricks,” explained Mr Armitage.

This investment comes in the wake of a stellar year for York Handmade Brick, culminating in supplying the bricks for the 2022 RIBA Stirling Prize-winning new library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, the highest accolade in architecture.

Mr Armitage commented: “These are challenging times but I am confident we can maintain the progress we made last year, despite inflation and the cost-of-living crisis, this year. We are flourishing in commercial property and education sectors, whilst residential housing, which has been our staple for a number of years, remains strong. In these testing times, it is vital to spread our work across as many different markets as possible.

Apart from the award-winning Magdalene College Library, high-profile contracts that York Handmade have completed during the past 12 months include Mount Row, a mixed-use development in the heart of Mayfair; a prestigious residential housing development at Kings Cross; and two superb residential projects in Yorkshire, at Felixkirk and Easingwold. Looking ahead, we are currently working on a magnificent house in East Lothian and two landmark commercial projects in Baker Street in London and in Oxford.
Mr Armitage concluded: “Looking ahead more generally, it is encouraging to report that brick remains the building material of choice for many architects and specifiers across the UK. We particularly value the contacts we have built up over the years with architects, planners, self-builders and developers. We look forward to continuing those relationships in the years to come and are confident that our new plant will help us immensely in achieving this objective.”