Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Business and Enterprise Committee

Publisher: The Stationery Office

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 132

ISBN-13: 9780215521804

The construction industry provides employment for more than 2.8 million people, contributed 8.7 per cent of the UK economy's gross value-added (GVA) in 2006. The built environment is estimated to account for some 70 per cent of UK manufactured wealth. The industry's ability to deliver projects successfully in terms of time, cost and design quality has a major impact on the economy's wider performance. Construction is vital for the provision of good quality public services, and plays a role in the delivery of just over half of the Government's 30 public service agreements. It is also key to the long-term objective of making the UK a low-carbon society: buildings account for around half of greenhouse gas emissions. The health of the construction industry is a matter of public concern. The industry is complex and fragmented; it operates on low profit margins. There are difficulties in ensuring that lessons from experience are shared; that the workforce is sufficiently trained; and that appropriate contractual relationships are in place between different parts of the supply chain. The industry has set new targets for itself, and, in conjunction with government, established a Strategy for Sustainable Construction. The Government, because of its roles as both client and regulator, can and must be at the forefront of the drive to embed best practice. The sector also needs strategic leadership, and the Committee recommends the creation of the post of Chief Construction Officer, which both government and the industry should accept as having overall responsibility for construction.