Dec 2011 - Government aims to stimulate construction sector.

Despite media reports to the contrary, the government continues to try to stimulate the construction industry with a number of new initiatives and programmes.

Following the report on Building Information Modelling which was released in June (which in turn followed the overarching Government Construction Strategy at the end of May), the Low Carbon Construction Action Plan was recently launched by Minister Mark Prisk.

After a great deal of debate, and a number of proposals, this latest initiative lives up to its billing as an ‘action plan’. It sets out not only how the government will improve its own performance, but also how it will help industry. A new Green Construction Board is to be established to deliver the action plan, with key representatives from across the industry helping to drive forward the low carbon agenda in the critical areas of design, development and financing as well as the operation of low carbon buildings and infrastructure. The plan has been broadly welcomed, with most commentators now keen to it in action.

Elsewhere, the long awaited Green Deal (which should bring both orders and jobs) together with initiatives such as ECO are also being rolled out, each aiming to provide a short term boost to the construction sector as well as the delivery of sustainable and energy efficient buildings.