The UK is facing an acute brick shortage - or it isn't, depending who you believe.
The Centre of Economics and Business Research says in a new report there is a serious shortfall and the UK will struggle to build the 264,000 houses it needs.
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However, the Brick Development Association insists there is no shortage and says the CEBR's report is "lazy analysis".
"We can report with absolute authority that there is no shortage," said Andrew Eagles, chief executive of the BDA.
The dispute comes as new figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal the number of new homes completed in the three months to June fell by two per cent compared to the same quarter last year.
The brick industry suffered after the 2008 financial crisis as house building slowed to a crawl and brick factories were mothballed. But it has since recovered, with separate ONS figures showing that brick production has recently increased.
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