Early reports following the government’s Windsor Framework deal on Northern Ireland show a positive response from the industry to the likely repercussions of the plan, with a majority believing it will stimulate construction in the province.
The findings, based on a survey by MRA Research of builders’ merchants in the province, was greeted with cautious optimism by industry leaders including PVCU window representatives who believe it will ‘reduce problematic checks and controls’ at borders.
Asked how positive they were about the deal from what they’d heard so far, over half of merchants (52%) were for it. Just over one in 10 (11%) were negative, but more than a third (37%) were neither for nor against.
Half of those interviewed thought the EU trade deal was likely to stimulate growth in construction.
When asked about their overall response to the agreement, 54% were for it.
Half were confident that the deal would instil the stability and certainty that businesses in Northern Ireland are seeking. And more than half felt the agreement would leave their business better placed to deal with the economic challenges that lie ahead.
Kevin Morgan, Group Commercial Director of The Crystal Group and Builders Merchant Building Index’s expert for PVC-U Windows & Doors, said: “The new proposals solve the issue of the protocol and will reduce problematic checks and controls – for us and our industry this potentially unlocks more supplier opportunities in Northern Ireland – noticeably for Crystal-Direct it has opportunities through its bigger retail partnerships who operate in the whole of the UK with the same unified prices.”
