Building Boards Market Report UK 2025-2029
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The 10th edition of the Building Boards Market Report UK 2025-2029 offers a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the evolving building boards sector, covering a wide range of performance boards used across residential, commercial, and industrial construction. This report explores the changing regulatory environment, emerging sustainability requirements, and the shifting demands of modern construction techniques, giving manufacturers, distributors, and specifiers a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities ahead.
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Report Overview
The UK building boards market is experiencing steady growth, driven by regulatory changes, increased demand for high-performance materials, and the rise of offsite and modular construction. Sustainability remains a key focus, with manufacturers innovating to meet stricter fire safety and environmental standards, exemplified by the launch of 100% recycled gypsum plasterboard in 2025.
Market Summary
The UK building boards market is valued at over £1.5 billion MSP in 2023 and is forecast to grow by around 6% annually through to 2029. Growth is being driven by demand for high-performance products that meet stricter fire safety, thermal efficiency, and sustainability regulations, alongside increasing use of offsite construction methods. While economic pressures such as high interest rates and energy costs have slowed short-term growth, government policies to boost housebuilding and commercial development, combined with ongoing innovation in sustainable materials, are expected to support steady market expansion.
Market Size
The UK building boards market was valued at approximately £1.5 billion MSP in 2023, covering rigid polymer boards, gypsum plasterboards, and specialist building boards. The market is forecast to grow by around 6% per year, reaching an estimated value of £2 billion MSP by 2029, driven by increased demand for high-performance products, sustainability requirements, and growth in offsite construction methods.
Market Analysis
The UK building boards market, valued at approximately £1.5 billion MSP in 2023, is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 6% through to 2029. This growth is being driven by several key factors, including increased demand for high-performance boards with enhanced thermal insulation, fire protection, and moisture resistance. The adoption of offsite construction methods such as modular and timber frame building is also accelerating the use of specialist boards.
Sustainability and regulatory compliance are becoming critical market drivers, with stricter fire safety rules and tougher sustainability targets shaping product innovation. This is illustrated by the upcoming 2025 launch of Gyproc SoundBloc Infinaé 100, the UK’s first 100% recycled gypsum plasterboard.
Economic pressures—such as high energy costs, interest rates, and ongoing global uncertainties—have moderated short-term growth in 2023 and 2024. However, the election of a new Labour Government, with a focus on boosting housebuilding and commercial development, provides a more optimistic medium-term outlook.
Rigid polymer boards, especially PIR and polystyrene, dominate by value, accounting for over 50% of the market, followed by plasterboards at 35% and specialist building boards at around 10%. Distribution is heavily reliant on specialist distributors, including SIG, CCF (Travis Perkins), Minster Insulation, and Encon, who also offer value-added services such as fabrication.
Forecast
The UK building boards market is forecast to grow steadily at around 6% per year, reaching approximately £2 billion MSP by 2029. Growth will be driven by increased demand for sustainable, high-performance products and rising adoption of offsite and modular construction, alongside government efforts to boost housing supply.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Background
- 1.2 Sources of Information
- 1.3 Glossary
2. SUMMARY
3. UK BUILDING BOARDS MARKET
- 3.1 Definition
- 3.2 Market size and recent trends
- 3.3 Housing Market
- 3.4 Non-residential Construction
- 3.5 Offsite Construction
- 3.6 Regulatory and Legislative Influences
- 3.6.1 Fire Protection
- 3.6.2 Thermal Insulation
4. PRODUCT MIX
- 4.1 Definition and overview
- 4.2 Rigid Polymer Thermal Insulation Boards
- 4.3 Calcined Gypsum Plasterboards
- 4.4 Specialist Building Boards
- 4.4.1 General overview
- 4.4.2 Cement boards
- 4.4.3 Calcium Silicate boards
- 4.4.4 Composite Boards
- 4.4.5 Other (including magnesium oxide boards)
5. MARKET MIXES BY APPLICATION
- 5.1 Definition
- 5.2 Linings for Walls, Partitions and Ceilings
- 5.3 Thermal Insulation Boards
- 5.3.1 Sheathing Boards (including render carrier boards)
- 5.4 Tile Backer Boards
- 5.5 Fire Protection
- 5.6 Cladding
- 5.7 Laminate flooring
6. SUPPLIERS REVIEW
- 6.1 Plasterboards /Drylining
- 6.1 Profiles of Major Building Board Manufacturers
6.2 Others
7. DISTRIBUTION
- 7.1 Overview
- 7.2 Company Profiles
- 7.2.1 Specialist distributors
- 7.2.2 Builders Merchants
- 7.2.3 DIY and Direct Sales
Charts and Tables Included
Chart 1: UK Building Boards Market Size by Value £bn (Drylining, Rigid Polymer & Specialist Boards) 2021 – 2029.
Chart 2: UK Building Boards Products Market by Value
(£ bn MSP) 2021 to 2029
Chart 3: House Building Starts and Completions (UK) by Number of Dwellings 2019 to 2028
Chart 4: Housebuilding Completions in England – % Mix by Type of Dwelling (Flats versus Houses) 2018 – 2024
Table 5: Number of Householder Developments Granted in England 2022 – 2028
Table 6: Mix of Householder Developments by Type of Project (Volume – Extensions, Roofing, H&V, etc) 2023
Chart 7: Approximate Mix of All Building Extensions by Type Granted (Single Storey, Two Storey and Other, e.g. garage, porch
Table 8: Non-Residential Construction Output (Great Britain) New Work & RMI – Current Prices (£bn) 2019 -2028
Chart 9: GB Construction Output by Sector % by value in 2023
Table 10: Building Regulation Amendments Impacting on the Building Insulation Market
Table 11: Building Regulations Part L 2022 Notional Building Specification vs Limiting U-Values by Insulation Application
Chart 12: Mix of Drylining, Insulation and Specialist Building Boards by Material – % By Value 2023
Chart 13: Mix of Rigid Polymer Boards by Material (Polyisocyanurate, XPS, Phenolic Foam, Expanded Polystyrene) – % By Value 2023
Chart 14: UK Rigid Polymer Insulation Boards Market and Forecasts by Value (£ million MSP) 2020 – 2029
Chart 15: UK Market and Forecasts for Gypsum Plasterboards by Value (£million MSP) 2020 – 2029
Chart 16: Plasterboard Mix by Broad Type (Performance/Standard Boards) –
by area
Chart 17: Performance Plasterboard Mixes by Type by Main Function (Fire-Protection, Acoustic, Moisture/Vapour Resistance, etc) by Area Installed (m2)
Chart 18: UK Market and Forecasts for Specialist Boards by Value (£ million MSP) 2020 – 2028
Chart 19: UK Market for Specialist Boards by Material (Cementitious, Calcium Silicate, Composite, Other) by Value 2023 2029
Chart 20: Drylining -Approximate Mix by Main Application (Internal Walls/Partitions, Outside Walls, Ceilings) by Area Installed 2023
Chart 21: UK Market for Wetroom Systems by Value (£m msp) 2018 -2023
Chart 22: Passive Fire Protection Products (Fire Doors, Structural/Boards, Fittings, Cables, Ceilings, Glass, etc) – Product Mix by Value
Chart 23: UK Market for Laminate Floorcoverings by Value (£m MSP)- 2017 – 2022
Chart 24: UK Drylining Market – Supplier Market Shares
Chart 32: Major Distribution Channels for Drylining, Rigid Insulation and Specialist Building Boards
Chart 33: Drylining and Buildings Boards -Approximate Distribution Mix by Channel – % Shares by Value
Trends and Influences
- Sustainability Focus: Strong shift towards low-carbon, recyclable materials and products with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).
- High-Performance Products: Growing preference for boards offering fire resistance, moisture protection, acoustic performance, and thermal efficiency.
- Offsite & Modular Construction: Increased demand for boards suited to timber frame, modular, and prefabricated building methods.
- Design Flexibility: Growing focus on aesthetic finishes and multi-functional boards to meet architectural design needs.
Legislation and Regulation Influences
- Fire Safety Regulations: Following Grenfell and updates to Building Regulations, there is increased demand for non-combustible or fire-resistant boards.
- Sustainability Targets: New and upcoming Net Zero policies and Part L (energy efficiency) requirements are driving demand for boards with enhanced thermal performance.
- Circular Economy & Waste Reduction: Increasing focus on recyclability, waste minimization, and product take-back
Economic Factors
- Inflation & Energy Costs: Rising manufacturing costs (energy-intensive board production) are impacting pricing and margins.
- Interest Rates & Construction Output: Higher interest rates have slowed residential development, but government-backed housing and infrastructure projects offer medium-term support.
- Labour Government Policies: Potential policy shifts to accelerate housing construction and improve building safety and sustainability could provide a boost to demand.
Key Companies Impacting the Market
Rigid Polymer Insulation Boards:
- Kingspan Insulation
- Celotex (part of Saint-Gobain)
- Unilin Insulation (formerly Xtratherm)
- Ravago Building Solutions
Plasterboards:
- British Gypsum (part of Saint-Gobain)
- Knauf UK
- Siniat UK (part of Etex Group)
Specialist Building Boards:
- Promat UK (fire protection boards)
- Cembrit (fibre cement boards)
- James Hardie Building Products (fibre cement boards)
- Marley Eternit (fibre cement boards)
- Fermacell UK (part of James Hardie Group, known for gypsum fibre boards)
- Euroform Products (specialist cladding and board solutions)
Distributors:
- SIG Plc
- CCF (part of Travis Perkins)
- Minster Insulation & Drylining (part of Saint-Gobain)
- Encon Insulation
- Vivalda Group
- FFG (Facades and Fabrication Group)
Product Category
Rigid and Semi-Rigid Polymer Boards
Primarily used for thermal insulation.
Also used in laminate flooring underlay and other applications.
Includes materials such as:
- PIR (Polyisocyanurate) – dominant product.
- Polystyrene (EPS and XPS).
- Phenolic Foam – known for high performance.
Gypsum Plasterboards
Widely used for drylining and internal partitions.
Categories include:
- Standard Wallboards/Baseboards – used in residential new builds.
- Performance Boards – offering enhanced fire resistance, moisture resistance, acoustic insulation, or impact resistance, often used in commercial buildings (offices, hospitals, schools).
Specialist Building Boards
- Made from a range of composite materials, often combining performance properties like fire resistance, moisture protection, or structural strength.
Common materials:
- Cement-based boards.
- Calcium Silicate boards.
- Magnesium Oxide boards.
- Composite boards including wood plastic or stone wool cores.
Applications include:
- Render carrier boards (for external wall insulation systems).
- Fire protection boards (for walls, ceilings, structural steel).
- Moisture-resistant backer boards (for wet rooms).
Sector Analysis
The demand for building boards in the UK is spread across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, with varying product preferences across each:
Residential Sector
New Build Housing: A key driver of demand, particularly for plasterboard and rigid polymer insulation boards in internal walls, ceilings, and floors.
Extensions, Loft Conversions & Renovations: Supports demand for performance boards, especially for acoustic insulation and moisture resistance in kitchens, bathrooms, and attic spaces.
Commercial Sector
Offices, healthcare, education, retail, and leisure buildings drive demand for performance plasterboards and specialist boards, particularly for fire protection and acoustic control in partition walls and ceilings.
Increasing focus on sustainability certification (BREEAM, WELL) is pushing use of boards with strong environmental credentials.
Industrial Sector
Warehouses and distribution hubs show demand for highly durable sheathing boards and insulation products, especially where fire resistance is critical.
Offsite & Modular Construction
This growing sector is driving demand for lighter-weight, high-performance boards that are easily incorporated into prefabricated panels used in factory-built homes and buildings.
Regional Analysis
London & Southeast
- Highest concentration of new residential and commercial developments, driving strong demand for plasterboard, insulation boards, and specialist cladding/backer boards.
- Higher specification levels in premium developments boost demand for performance boards (acoustic, fire-rated).
Midlands & Northwest
- Significant residential development activity and industrial/logistics growth drive demand for thermal insulation boards and fire protection boards.
- Urban regeneration projects contribute to demand for internal fit-out boards in commercial refurbishments.
Scotland
- Focus on energy efficiency in new builds, particularly in timber frame construction, supports demand for sheathing boards, moisture-resistant boards, and high-performance insulation boards.
Wales & Southwest
- Demand primarily driven by housebuilding and tourism-led developments, with increasing demand for sustainability-focused products in eco-tourism projects.
Northern Ireland
Smaller market overall, but strong use of timber frame construction creates demand for specialist sheathing and render carrier boards.
Distribution and Supplier Analysis
The specialist distributor channel is the most important route to market, supplying boards directly to large-scale housebuilders, contractors, and commercial projects. These distributors stock the widest range, covering drylining, rigid insulation, specialist cladding, and fire protection boards, with key players including SIG plc, Encon Insulation, CCF (Travis Perkins), Minster Insulation (Saint-Gobain), Vivalda Group, and BBS Facades.
Builders’ merchants, such as Travis Perkins, Jewson (Stark Group), and Huws Gray, mainly serve the domestic RMI market and smaller builders, offering standard plasterboards and basic insulation products, with limited specialist ranges.
Direct sales to offsite and modular manufacturers is a growing channel, especially for performance boards used in volumetric construction and timber/steel frame systems.
DIY retailers (e.g., B&Q, Wickes) account for only a small share, primarily stocking basic plasterboards, insulation boards, and tile backers for smaller projects and DIYers.
Overall, specialist distributors dominate, particularly where technical expertise, product variety, and large volumes are required, while builders’ merchants remain essential for RMI and smaller projects, and direct supply grows in importance with offsite construction.
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