I am glad Mr Woolas has spoken out, as recorded in your article “Minister predicts death of brick and concrete in decades” (3 March, building.co.uk).

There are many benefits of using concrete and bricks, but in the right circumstances. More often than not, there are better options – but the large corporations that make up the UK block,

brick and concrete industry would have us believe that it is always the right choice. One of the Concrete Centre members at EcoBuild was stating in brochures that lightweight concrete blocks have less embodied energy than UK-grown softwood, and less of an environmental footprint. I wonder why I don’t believe the indignant marketing peoples’ responses noted in your article?

Matt Robinson

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