Mandelson announces carbon review of construction industry
12:14 17 Sep 2009
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Business Secretary Peter Mandelson is commissioning a review of the construction industry to ensure it is “fit for purpose” for delivering a low carbon future.
He announced the news at today’s meeting of the Strategic Forum for Construction.
The review will assess the strengths of the UK construction industry in a low carbon economy, and consider how the UK can be a world leader in this sector.
This review will be led by the Chief Construction Adviser, who will be appointed in November, and will be undertaken by a mix of industry experts and those with wider business experience.
It will follow the “Innovation and Growth Team” model which has been used in both the aerospace and automotive sectors. The Construction Innovation and Growth team (IGT) aims to have its first full meeting in October.
Keith Clarke, CEO of Atkins and CIC Chairman has agreed to chair the Construction IGT until the Chief Construction Adviser is appointed.
Peter Mandelson said: “The construction industry must now face the challenge of exploiting the advantages of the low carbon economy.
“I am delighted that Keith Clarke has agreed to take this forward until the new Chief Construction Advisor is appointed to lead this important work. I am impatient I am for rapid progress.”
The Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP, Chairman of the Strategic Forum for Construction said: “I welcome this announcement. Together with the recent decision to appoint a Chief Construction Adviser, it puts construction right at the front of the shop window. It is absolutely critical that the industry works closely with the Government on this agenda and we now have a clear focus and framework to ensure proper and strategic engagement.”
Commenting on the news CECA director Rosemary Beales said: “Shifting to a low carbon future will represent one of the major challenges for construction in the 21st century. While the need to reduce carbon has been much discussed in recent years there has, until now, been little clarity as to what this will mean for the construction industry. We need a clear roadmap highlighting how the industry can play its part in reducing the UK’s carbon output, leading the way and acting as a template that the rest of the world can follow.
“This is an important element of delivering a more sustainable future for the industry. However this future sustainability also relies upon the ability of businesses to overcome the pressing challenges associated with the current downturn. It is vital that these issues are also tackled and that Government remains focused on the role that construction must play in the economic recovery.”
In the government report New Industry New Jobs, the Government set out its intention to unlock potential in a number of specific growth areas – low carbon, the digital economy, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. It regards construction as one of the key sectors that will deliver these ambitions.