Government outlines action plan on low carbon construction

Business minister Mark Prisk has outlined plans today (June 22) on how the government and the construction industry will work together to decarbonise the built environment by 2050.


The strategy sets out the governments low carbon construction plan as well as action taken already.

The government will establish a joint board with industry to implement the strategy and plans to reform public procurement to encourage investment and stimulate growth.

An updated Carbon Plan will be published to incorporate the extension of the Green Deal to include non-domestic properties and incentives for renewable heat systems.

From Autumn 2011 the Government will publish quarterly a two-year forward programme of infrastructure projects to give more certainty to the sector to invest in low carbon.

Mark Prisk said: “Through this joint Government and industry action plan we are making a clear commitment to the low carbon transition which will create the certainty needed for construction companies to invest in essential new skills, processes and products.”

The detailed government document is available on the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills website.

The announcement today was welcomed by Deloitte Sustainability and Climate Change practice but said the government needed to ensure that a market system is in place to encourage long term investment.

Director Peter Sharratt said: “The construction industry appears willing to do its bit if it has a clear and stable regulatory environment to operate in.

Making sustainable development a balance sheet issue should be a real objective and this would be an investment driver.

“We hope the government will lead by putting carbon and sustainability issues at the core of investment appraisals in the Treasury’s ‘green book’.

“We welcome the proposed partnering approach, but we can’t rely on subsidy alone to deliver a policy driven market. The construction industry needs a market system that makes sense to long term investors and meets a real demand.”

Alison Brown

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