This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Britain’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, is considering moving the production of blocks used in construction from Germany to Britain, an example of the steps some businesses are taking to mitigate against risks from Brexit.

London and Brussels hope to agree a deal this month to protect the free movement of goods between Britain and the EU until 2020, but many companies are developing contingency plans.

Barratt said about 90% of its materials are sourced domestically, but it was in talks over shifting the production of large format blocks used in the construction process, which currently come from overseas.

“We’re currently having a discussion with the supplier about whether production can come from the UK rather than directly from Germany,” said Barratt’s chief executive, David Thomas.

Thomas said the housebuilder was investing in developing skills in Britain, including a programme to employ former army personnel.

On Wednesday, Barratt said it would meet full-year expectations after reporting a 6.8% rise in half-year, pre-tax profit to £342.7m, as the number of homes it built increased by 2% in the final six months of 2017.