Building products across the region have seen a major sales surge as more people swapped holidays for home improvements during the health crisis.

According to national trade body the Builders Merchants Federation’s Builders Merchant Building Index (BMBI), the South East is third nationwide.

It measures the sales performance at builders’ merchants in 11 areas across Britain.

Figures for the South East in the third quarter of 2020 rose by 4.1%, compared with the same time frame in 2019. The national average saw a 1% rise.

September proved a bumper month, with an increase of 11.6% compared with the same month in 2019. The national average was an 8.3% rise.

Louise Polston, commercial director of Alsford Timber, which has sites in Sittingbourne, Dartford and Tonbridge, and regional chair of the BMF for the South East, said: “Landscaping and timber have had phenomenal years with sales up considerably year-on-year in the region.

“This increase in demand has been largely down to people being at furloughed at home and not taking holidays.

“Instead they have opted to spend money on their garden for a stay at home summer.”

John Newcomb, chief executive of the BMF, added: “Households in the South East have directed money they would normally have allocated on travel to improving their homes.

“On a national basis, landscaping has particularly benefitted in this regard, with the category being the best performing in the BMBI every month from June to September.

“In terms of sales overall, our members have reported on the catch-up effect, as delayed work from the first lockdown picks up.”

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