Govt launches Strategy for Sustainable Construction
- Published: 11 June 2008 10:00
- Author: Alasdair Reisner
- More by this Author
- Last Updated: 17 June 2008 09:41
- Reader Responses
The UK's largest public sector clients have signed up to a series of commitments to revolutionise the industry's approach to sustainability.
Today (11 June) sees the launch of the government's Strategy for Sustainable Construction, which aims to bring together a host of targets from industry and the Government in a single document.
Among the key targets it lays down is a demand for 230,000 new workers to be recruited by the industry by 2010, a 10 per cent year on year reduction in construction deaths, a 13,500 increase in the number of apprentices in the industry, that 25 per cent of materials are responsibly sourced and that all projects valued at over £1 billion take biodiversity into account in their planning.
Construction minister Shriti Vadera said that the strategy would put the UK at the top of the global league in terms of the sustainability of its construction industry.
She said: "An efficient construction sector is essential for the investment in infrastructure and buildings that underpins our competitiveness.
"With the current pressures such as the cost of fuel presenting an extra challenge for the industry, it is even more important that we encourage the sector to perform as efficiently and sustainably as possible. Improvements in these areas will save costs and increase profitability in the long-term."
The launch of the strategy went hand-in-hand with an agreement from a host of government clients signing up to the Strategic Forum's Construction Commitments, which were also launched at the event, having been developed from the earlier 2012 Construction Commitments.
Those signing up included a host of the industry's leading clients including the Highways Agency: Department of Health; Department of Childrens, Schools and Families; Ministry of Defence and the Housing Corporation.
Strategic Forum chairman Mike Davies called upon all businesses in the industry to follow in the Government's lead by signing up to the commitments, which look to set industry wide standards for procurement, client leadership, design quality, commitment to people, sustainability and health and safety.
Analysis – Jon De Souza, director of sustainability, regions and demonstrations, Constructing Excellence
Constructing Excellence welcomes the Sustainable Construction Strategy. A survey last year of our members' views into the drivers and barriers to improving construction's sustainability showed, probably unsurprisingly, that government pressure and legislation were perceived as key factors.
It is excellent to get a unified document with the buy in from all relevant government departments and agencies to drive forward this agenda.
Most crucially of all though, this strategy has been formulated in partnership with all sections of the construction supply chain, including both public and private sector clients.
This engagement with clients through the consultation process means that the contents of the Strategy should be built into future procurement processes.
The targets within the Strategy are obviously stretching but are achievable. Leading edge companies are already setting out to exceed some of these targets and this will only help to differentiate them in the marketplace.
I would like to think that as a result of the Strategy the drive will be there for such practice to become normalised which, in turn, should help to drive performance improvement within the whole industry.
TARGETS:
Procurement
30 per cent of projects and 40 per cent of work to be conducted by integrated teams by 2012
35 per cent of client activity by value to embrace principals of Clients Commitments by 2010, and 60 per cent by 2012
Berr/ Strategic Forum to lauch integration demonstration projects
Berr/OGC/CE Best practice roadshows to launch by 2009
OGC whole life value procurement strategy review completed this year
Centre for sustainable procurement launched by 2009
Construction Clients Group to launch procurement guides by 2009
Design
10 per cent year-on-year increase in the proportion and number of public building projects using design quality indicators.
BREEAM 'excellent' to be achieved on all new and refurbished buildings procured by central Government.
All public sector homes built to Lifetime Homes standard by 2011
Innovation
Complete National Platform's Strategic Research Agenda by September
First activities of Low Impact Building Innovation platform
Attract critical mass of construction businesses to Knowledge Transfer Network by summer 2009
Create pilot index to measure UK innovation by 2009
Developer third phase of Sustainable Urban Environment research programme
Create up to five ecotowns by 2016 and 10 by 2020
Complete first Carbon Challenge zero carbon homes by 2009, with first developments complete by 2011.
Co-ordinate sustainability research with European partners
People
230,000 net increase in qualified industry workers by 2010, with 260,000 by 2012.
13,500 new apprentices a year by 2010 rising to 18,700 by 18,700
Promotion of Investors in People
Development of construction specific sector skills pledge and action plan for training in the building products sector this year.
Promotion of continuous professional development.
Influencing development of the Construction Qualifications Strategy
Fully trained workforce on all projects by 2010
10 per cent year-on-year reduction in fatal and major injury incidents
20 per cent reduction in work related illness by 2010
50 per cent increase in projects offering occupational health support by 2012
30 per cent increase in small firms taking up health and safety training at an organisational level by 2012.
Climate Change
All homes to be zero carbon by 2016
Consultation on timetable to achieve zero carbon for non-domestic buildings by 2019
Establish taskforce to achieve zero carbon for schools by 2016
Departments to achieve 15 per cent increase in energy efficiency per sq m by 2010 and 30 per cent by 2020.
Reduce carbon emissions from government estate by 12.5 per cent by 2010/11, and 30 per cent by 2020
Government estate to be carbon neutral by 2012
15 per cent reduction in carbon emissions from construction by 2012
National climate change adaption programme and risk assessment by 2011
Ongoing review of Building Regs to take into account climate change adaption
Review of water fittings regulations to maximise water efficiency by 2009.
Water
All homes to meet Code for Sustainable Homes level 3 for water efficiency by 2010
Development of standards for use of non-potable water by end of 2008
New water fitting standards by 2009
Reduce water consumption by 3cu m per person on all government office new builds and refurbishments, and 25 per cent reduction across government estate by 2020
20 per cent reduction in water usage during construction by 2012
Introduction of changes to the Building regs to improve water efficiency of homes by 2009
Biodiversity
All projects valued at more than £1 million to have biodiversity action plan by 2012
Biodiveristy toolkit available for planners by summer 2008
Roadmap for biodiversity in construction by the end of 2008
Waste
Companies to commit to waste reduction strategies following launch in September
Guidance developed to reduce waste from small builders
Trade associations to prepare sector specific resource efficiency plans
Target set for overall diversion of demolition waste from landfill by 2009
Extension of plasterboard voluntary agreement by 2009
20 per cent reduction in construction packaging waste by 2012
Materials
Pilot assessment of whole life impacts of construction products
Plan development of sector specific responsible sourcing schemes by 2009
25 per cent of all construction products to be responsibly sourced by 2012
Develop means for designers to access product Life Cycle Inventory information by 2010.
