At the beginning of February the DTI launched a new consultation that aims to provide the Government with a framework to guide future progress in the construction industry. It was launched on 2 February by the Rt. Hon Alun Michael, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions. This new consultation in the form of a draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction Report 2006 aims to seek the views of key construction stakeholders. The terms of reference will be a review of the direction that they think the industry should take with the aim to develop and maintain a more sustainable future.
Significantly, the review will look at issues such as:
Building design and the code for sustainable homes (of which we have heard rather a lot about already)
New construction methods and best practice
Improved embedded energy systems
Waste minimisation
Enhancement of biodiversity
Greater efficiency in carbon emissions and thorough assessment of the impact of climate change
At the launch Alun Michael said that: The consultation shows where we think the industry should go in terms of its future development as well as indicating where businesses believe their efforts should be concentrated. Government hopes that the Strategy will encourage industry to propose a positive response to some of the questions it faces.
The consultation aims to provide an update of the 'Building a better quality of life' report that was produced by the then DETR. The Building a better quality of life document was intended to be a strategy document for more sustainable construction in April 2000. Due to developments that have taken place in both Government policy and within the industry the review of the existing construction strategy is now planned.
This most recent review follows on from the March 2005 report of the UK Sustainable Development Strategy and the European Union is currently re-appraising its Sustainable Development Strategy.
Under the umbrella of sustainable development the review aims to indicate how Government and industry are responding to the challenges of sustainable construction through a sustainable, innovative and productive economy.
The Government view is that sustainable development involves balancing and integrating the economic, social and environmental considerations that are relevant to any policy or decision. Looking back at the review, the considerations appear to be similar. It is proposed that the review will set out how this balancing and integrating is being undertaken whilst protecting and enhancing the physical and natural environment, and making use of resources and energy as efficiently as possible.
The review is to involve the ODPM, Defra, DCMS, OGC, DfES and WAG. Watch out for the consultation event on 7 March which has been planned to gauge the industry focus on the process. Currently the aim is for the review to be completed by early summer 2006.
A further update will be provided either after the 7 March consultation event or in early summer when DTI issues a further review to take account of any further changes or new developments.
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There is an obvious need for the industry to be more energy efficient and pay more attention to the ways in which energy is both used and wasted. Do you think we have the products on the market to meet our needs?
