It is a huge sum, but says head of Policy James Prestwich, social housing is a crucial infrastructure and investing in it will benefit the wider economy.
This year, we mark the centenary of a landmark piece of legislation, which has fundamentally shaped the housing system in this country – perhaps more than any other. The end of the First World War created huge demand for affordable homes across the country, which led to the passage of the Housing & Planning Act of 1919. Now better known as the Addison Act – after Dr Christopher Addison, the then-minister of health and the bill’s author – it set in motion the whole system of social housing we know today.
It made housing a public responsibility for the first time, establishing the principle that the government must ensure there are enough decent, affordable homes to go around. It’s a noble vision, and it’s vital that we don’t lose sight of it.
Now, 100 years on, what does our housing system – especially social housing – look like? For many of us, the cracks are clear to see: rough sleeping is up 165% on 2010 levels, while temporary accommodation is full to bursting. The amount of social housing has fallen, leaving expensive and insecure private renting as the only real alternative for millions of people. This is having dire consequences – 1.3m children are now growing up in poverty in the private rented sector.
Why has this happened, a century on from a landmark law that made the government responsible for ensuring everyone had a decent home? The answer is that, for decades, successive governments of all parties have failed to invest enough in affordable housing. In 1953, the government spent £11.3bn in today’s prices on building new social housing – by last year, this figure had fallen to just £1.27bn.
Ultimately, this is a problem that has been caused by lack of investment. It means that the solution lies in renewed investment, targeted to deliver the social housing the country desperately needs.
Now, for the first time, we can put a price on how much money is required. Over the next 10 years, the government should invest £146bn in building social housing. Per year, this works out at an average of around £12.8bn, in today’s prices.
Of course, this feels like a vast sum of money – and it is. The housing crisis is deeply entrenched, and can’t be solved easily. It will take political will and a significant long-term investment to finally bring it to an end.
However, it’s important to put this figure in perspective. The government already spends about £10bn every year just on roads. The logic is simple: they’re a vital part of our infrastructure and we need a functioning road system to keep the country moving, so the government invests in it. That same logic should also apply to housing.
As well as providing the social homes the country desperately needs, this investment would have wider benefits for everyone. By spending £12.8bn each year, the government could create an economic boom. It would add £120bn to the economy annually, supporting businesses and new jobs, and helping to boost the economy.
Meanwhile, this investment would also save the government money. By building new social housing, more and more people could move out of expensive temporary accommodation or privately rented homes, and into social housing where they can afford the rent and put down roots. This would, in turn, bring down the colossal housing benefit bill, which reached the dizzying heights of £22.3bn last year.
Of course, spending this money won’t fix the problem overnight – the housing crisis requires a long-term perspective and long-term certainty. This would allow the funding to be ramped up, with less money in initial years of the programme as new jobs are created. Then, when additional capacity is in place, more money can be spent in later years.
What’s important is that the government invests the desperately needed money that is required to end the housing crisis. Underfunding is the biggest cause of this crisis, so it must be part of the solution. For the first time, we know exactly what it will take to end this economic, social and human catastrophe. We can also reap the economic rewards of this spending programme, creating new jobs and supporting businesses across the country.
Now that we know what needs to be done, it’s up to the government to take the lead and make it happen.
Source: PBC today
Why use SPS Envirowall’s Cavity System wall insulation?
/in Home Page news feed, NewsSPS Envirowall’s Cavity System is the latest fully tested and accredited addition to its expanding range of innovative external wall insulation systems.
Extensively used on lightweight structures, cavity systems create a drainage void between the cladding and the sheathed framed structure. SPS Envirowall Cavity Systems 1 & 2 are the next generation of this solution.
This modern method of construction has proven extremely popular over recent years and dominates the build method used for mid to high rise structures, which is an ideal scenario to specify and install the new SPSenvirowall Cavity Systems.
The SPS Envirowall Cavity Systems consist of EuroClass A1 components, which are mechanically fixed back to the inner sheathing board to create the designed cavity width, with either the insulation board fitted directly to the A1 fillets (CS1 system) or a secondary A1 sheathing board and insulation (CS2 system).
Features & Benefits
• Compliant with Approved Document B and Technical Handbook section 2
• Minimum EuroClass Reaction to Fire classification of A2 – s1, d0
• EuroClass A1 support system
• Takes cladding out of the critical path by quickly weatherproofing the building
• Low-cost cladding solution
• Fast application
• Tried and tested
• Wide range of colours and finishes including brick slips
• Easily achieves high levels of thermal performance
• Highly durable and weather resistant
• Crack resistant
Façade Finishes
•Textured: FlexiSil (Acrylic), EnviroSil (Silicone), Enviromin (Mineral)
• Brick: SpeedySlip (Flexible Slip), BrickStick (Clay Slip),
Suitable for the following construction types
• Lightweight Framed Structures (LSF)
For more information and brochure download:
https://spsenvirowall.co.uk/assets/technical-resources/SPSenvirowall-Cavity-System-1-2.pdf
Source: The Loadstar
Recession fears as EU workers leave the UK
/in NewsThere are clear signs that the construction sector is bracing itself for a downturn.
According to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB), an independent, non-profit trade association that represents 8,000 small- to medium-sized building firms, companies are already reducing their headcount of direct employees in favour of subcontractors who are easily removed if the work dries up.
The FMB’s most recent State of Trade survey showed that employment among construction SMEs had dropped for the first time in more than five years.
“Their thinking is that if the worst happens and a recession hits later this year, they need the size of their workforce to be flexible in order for their firm to survive,” said Arthur McArdle, the FMB’s national president. “However, this strategy is not without risk, as if construction bosses are employing more subbies, they might not always be certain of their quality. Rebalancing the workforce may seem like a good idea at the time, but it could lead to reputation-damaging mistakes.”
Another body, the Home Builders Federation (HBF). meanwhile. said however that delays in the planning process and a lack of available land were of more concern at the moment to its members, who account for 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales.
Buyer confidence was cited in March as a major constraint by only 7% of members of the Home Builders Federation (HBF), well down on the 48% who said it was a challenge of a similar scale at the end of last year.
Stockpiling, which has been taking place in other sectors ahead of Brexit, is meanwhile less of an indicator in the building trade. Smaller and medium-sized companies do not have the necessary storage space in the first instance. When shortages have occurred, such as problems in relation to bricks last year, they have been rectified relatively quickly.
Results from a survey of over 10,500 construction workers carried out by recruiter Randstad has revealed that one in three EU nationals have considered leaving the UK because of the Brexit referendum.
The truth is that it’s the potential drop in construction projects, subsequent funding, and availability of jobs that’s the biggest driving force influencing the 39% who are expressing concern. This is followed by uncertainty over trade deals with the EU (19%), new findings suggest.
A no-deal Brexit raises the prospect of delays and cost increases, as employers face difficulties to get vital EU workers to UK building sites, threatening timing of projects. With 7% of construction workers in the UK and over a quarter of London’s construction workforce coming from other EU countries (ONS), plus the £10bn (15%) of building materials coming from the EU, it’s clear that action needs to be taken. The good news is that there is still time to make a difference and retain highly-skilled workers.
As the country gets closer to withdrawing from the EU, it is becoming clearer that employers and employees are sceptical of what the industry will look like later this year in terms of workforce and materials supply. Of all of those surveyed, one fifth admitted that they have considered leaving the country amid Brexit uncertainties.
Source: The Guardian / Showhouse.co.uk
New Septic Tank Regulations in England & Wales deadline approaching
/in Home Page news feed, NewsAll septic tank types that discharge to surface water will require either upgrading or replacement with a sewage treatment plant.
Under the new code of practice by the Environment Agency, homeowners are responsible for the installation and required maintenance of the sewage treatment system on their property, and to limit its impact on the local environment.
Septic tanks can no longer discharge directly into a watercourse must upgrade their sewage treatment system by January 1, 2020, or sooner if the property is going up for sale before this deadline. The tank will also require replacement if the Environmental Agency (EA) finds that it is causing pollution.
In accordance with these regulations, a septic tank or wastewater treatment plant has to meet British Standards BS EN 12566, while any drainage field is required to meet BS EN 6297:2007 standards. The new rules aim to reduce the level of pollution present in national waterways by better controlling and regulating discharge requirements to a watercourse.
The goal is to significantly reduce the level of pollution currently present in national waterways through better control and regulation of discharge requirements to a watercourse. This upgrade to your sewage treatment system must be in place by January 1, 2020, or when you sell the property (if selling before this date).
If buying or selling a property before the 2020 deadline, you are legally required to inform any potential buyers in writing if the property has a septic tank as well as provide all information regarding maintenance requirements and the location of the system.
The Environmental Agency will carry out inspections to enforce the adoption of the new rules. If found to be currently polluting surface water due to discharge from a septic tank, you will be required to install a new system before the deadline.
Any system installed before 1983, prior and the establishment of current standards will most likely need replacement. An existing unit requires the following to be compliant;
For additional information about the 2020 changes to the septic tank regulations, visit tricel.co.uk/septic-tank-regulations-2020
Source: The Loadstar / Tricel.co.uk
How will the October VAT change affect the construction industry?
/in NewsConstruction workers are calling upon chancellor Sajid Javid to delay VAT changes which many say will cripple firms’ cashflows this autumn.
In June, the government published guidance about the so-called reverse charge on the way VAT is collected in the building and construction industry.
It comes into effect on 1 October and will see the customer receiving the services having to pay the VAT due to HMRC instead of paying the supplier – meaning companies will no longer receive their 20% VAT payment when they submit their bills.
HMRC said it has introduced the change to crack down on companies charging and collecting VAT payments before disappearing and owing the taxman.
But critics say the new rules will hit firms’ cashflows and push many into the red as they struggle to keep up with payments to HMRC.
Last week 15 trade bodies, including the Federation of Master Builders, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA), wrote to Javid asking him to push back the changes by at least six months.
The British Constructional Steelwork Association said firms with a turnover of £15m could be hit with a negative cashflow of £262,500 by month three of the charge.
“This could be the end for many subcontractors who are already experiencing late payment, difficulties in agreeing final payment amounts,” said the group’s director-general Sarah McCann-Bartlett.
CECA chief executive Alasdair Reisner said: “Civil engineering contractors are extremely worried about the impact of the forthcoming new rules on their immediate cashflow and the impact that this will have on business sustainability. Small contractors do not have the resources to manage the immediate impact of the legislation change.”
In its June guidance, HMRC admitted: “HMRC understands that implementing the reverse charge may cause some difficulties.”
But it told firms: “[We] will apply a light touch in dealing with any errors made in the first six months of the new legislation, as long as you are trying to comply with the new legislation and have acted in good faith.”
For information on the changes and what you need to know, please click here
Source: building.co.uk
Government needs to spend around £146bn over the next 10 years to deliver the homes the UK needs
/in Home Page news feedIt is a huge sum, but says head of Policy James Prestwich, social housing is a crucial infrastructure and investing in it will benefit the wider economy.
This year, we mark the centenary of a landmark piece of legislation, which has fundamentally shaped the housing system in this country – perhaps more than any other. The end of the First World War created huge demand for affordable homes across the country, which led to the passage of the Housing & Planning Act of 1919. Now better known as the Addison Act – after Dr Christopher Addison, the then-minister of health and the bill’s author – it set in motion the whole system of social housing we know today.
It made housing a public responsibility for the first time, establishing the principle that the government must ensure there are enough decent, affordable homes to go around. It’s a noble vision, and it’s vital that we don’t lose sight of it.
Now, 100 years on, what does our housing system – especially social housing – look like? For many of us, the cracks are clear to see: rough sleeping is up 165% on 2010 levels, while temporary accommodation is full to bursting. The amount of social housing has fallen, leaving expensive and insecure private renting as the only real alternative for millions of people. This is having dire consequences – 1.3m children are now growing up in poverty in the private rented sector.
Why has this happened, a century on from a landmark law that made the government responsible for ensuring everyone had a decent home? The answer is that, for decades, successive governments of all parties have failed to invest enough in affordable housing. In 1953, the government spent £11.3bn in today’s prices on building new social housing – by last year, this figure had fallen to just £1.27bn.
Ultimately, this is a problem that has been caused by lack of investment. It means that the solution lies in renewed investment, targeted to deliver the social housing the country desperately needs.
Now, for the first time, we can put a price on how much money is required. Over the next 10 years, the government should invest £146bn in building social housing. Per year, this works out at an average of around £12.8bn, in today’s prices.
Of course, this feels like a vast sum of money – and it is. The housing crisis is deeply entrenched, and can’t be solved easily. It will take political will and a significant long-term investment to finally bring it to an end.
However, it’s important to put this figure in perspective. The government already spends about £10bn every year just on roads. The logic is simple: they’re a vital part of our infrastructure and we need a functioning road system to keep the country moving, so the government invests in it. That same logic should also apply to housing.
As well as providing the social homes the country desperately needs, this investment would have wider benefits for everyone. By spending £12.8bn each year, the government could create an economic boom. It would add £120bn to the economy annually, supporting businesses and new jobs, and helping to boost the economy.
Meanwhile, this investment would also save the government money. By building new social housing, more and more people could move out of expensive temporary accommodation or privately rented homes, and into social housing where they can afford the rent and put down roots. This would, in turn, bring down the colossal housing benefit bill, which reached the dizzying heights of £22.3bn last year.
Of course, spending this money won’t fix the problem overnight – the housing crisis requires a long-term perspective and long-term certainty. This would allow the funding to be ramped up, with less money in initial years of the programme as new jobs are created. Then, when additional capacity is in place, more money can be spent in later years.
What’s important is that the government invests the desperately needed money that is required to end the housing crisis. Underfunding is the biggest cause of this crisis, so it must be part of the solution. For the first time, we know exactly what it will take to end this economic, social and human catastrophe. We can also reap the economic rewards of this spending programme, creating new jobs and supporting businesses across the country.
Now that we know what needs to be done, it’s up to the government to take the lead and make it happen.
Source: PBC today
“Brexit fatigue” sees surveyors report construction output grow
/in Home Page news feed, NewsThe industry is getting on with life as its patience with Brexit related indecision wears thin according to the latest RICS Construction and Infrastructure Market Survey.
Quarter two results show output growth accelerating and workload and employment expectations gathering pace for the year ahead.
The quarter saw 16% more surveyors reporting an increase in construction workloads, up from a +9% net balance in Q1.
RICS Senior Economist, Jeffrey Matsu, said: “Three years on and the long, unrelenting shadow of Brexit uncertainty is testing the mettle of the construction industry.
“After a prolonged period of delays and underinvestment, businesses now appear to be fed up and are proceeding cautiously with new hiring and intentions to invest.
“While much of this is likely to be backfilling or maintaining existing capacity, the requirements of larger projects such as Hinkley Point C and HS2 are constraining growth opportunities elsewhere.
“With the range of possible outcomes related to Brexit as wide as ever, we expect to see continued volatility in the construction output data but in the meanwhile foresee workload activity stabilising.”
Following a dip in Q1, workloads in the infrastructure sector improved in Q2 and there was also modest growth in commercial and public non-housing activity.
Looking to the year ahead, workloads are expected to be most resilient in the private housing and infrastructure sectors with 27% and 25% more surveyors, respectively, anticipating activity to rise rather than fall.
The RICS market confidence indicator – a composite measure of workload, employment and profit margin expectations over the coming twelve months – rebounded to 21% (from 13% in Q1).
Investments related to equipment, software and worker training are expected to gather pace as well.
Source: Construction Enquirer
Theresa May calls for tougher design rules to prevent ‘tiny homes’
/in Home Page news feed, NewsTheresa May has called for mandatory design standards for new houses, saying the number of “tiny homes” with little storage on the market is indefensible.
The prime minister said the lack of universal, enforceable rules on the amount of internal space is encouraging a “race to the bottom” among builders.
If all councils made those rules a pre-condition of planning, it would end the “postcode lottery”, she argued.
MPs, meanwhile, say residents should be compensated for design flaws.
The cross-party Commons Public Accounts Committee said there needed to be a clear definition of what was acceptable in terms of the quality of new housing.
In a new report, it said it was particularly concerned about offices and commercial buildings being converted into residential properties.
The government is reviewing its policy of allowing the conversion of offices into homes without planning permission.
What are the rules?
Guidelines specifying minimum bedroom size, floor areas for storage and floor to ceiling heights for new builds in England have been in place for several years and were last updated in 2016.
But the Nationally Described Space Standards are not compulsory, and are only applicable if councils adopt them as part of their local housing plan.
What does the PM want?
In a speech to the Chartered Institute of Housing in Manchester, Mrs May said there are different standards in different areas.
While the government remained committed to a massive expansion in house building over the next decade, hoping to reach a target of 300,000 new homes a year by the mid 2020s, she said this cannot come at the expense of quality.
“I cannot defend a system in which owners and tenants are forced to accept tiny homes with inadequate storage,” she said.
“Where developers feel the need to fill show homes with deceptively small furniture. And where the lack of universal standards encourages a race to the bottom.”
The government wants to see design requirements incorporated into the planning process for the first time.
But MPs have expressed concerns that too many councils’ housing plans are out of date and some town halls do not have a blueprint at all due to its cost and complexity.
The Public Accounts Committee said ministers were reluctant to intervene and use their powers to develop a plan centrally because of concerns over localism.
Why is housing such a key issue?
The Local Government Association, which represents more than 300 councils in England and Wales, said there needed to be more leadership from government on the issue so councils, developers and home buyers knew where they stood.
“High-quality homes for affordable and social rent are desperately needed across the country now,” said Martin Tett, the organisation’s housing spokesman.
“These standards should future-proof all new homes ensuring they are accessible for all ages and all markets, meet the housing needs of our ageing population and are environmentally sustainable.”
Shelter said it applauded efforts to improve the quality of new homes but the reality was that most first-time buyers could simply not afford to get on the housing ladder.
It said ministers’ efforts should be focused on removing disincentives in the market to build social housing.
“What this country needs – and what it wants – is a commitment from the top, from any prime minister, to a renewal of social housing,” said its chief executive Polly Neate.
Source: BBC.co.uk
2 years post Grenfell, do new regulations go far enough?
/in Home Page news feed, NewsThe Fire Protection Association, the UK’s national fire safety organisation, is highlighting that, if we want to prevent another Grenfell Tower tragedy, it’s time for some immediate change. The organisation remains firm in its message that two years after “Grenfell”, the government’s changes to building regulations and the so-called ban on combustible cladding do not go far enough in protecting buildings and the people who live in them, from fire.
The Fire Protection Association says the solution should be:
Jonathan O’Neill, OBE, managing director, Fire Protection Association commented:
“The Fire Protection Association supports a total ban on combustible building materials, to all high-risk buildings, such as schools, hospitals, nursing homes, blocks of flats – not just those buildings over 18 metres. We also want a ban on single staircases in all tall buildings, because in the event of a fire you need at least one staircase for people to be able to evacuate the building, and a second staircase for the fire and rescue services for entry. Our support of third-party certification, to provide independent verification of building regulations services, as well as the mandatory installation of multi sensor detectors (that can detect several sources, such as heat, smoke and carbon monoxide) is also a key consideration. There is clearly much that still needs to be done, so we are keen to see change now – and will help in any way we can to ensure that we never again experience a tragedy on the scale we witnessed at Grenfell.”
The importance of Digital Construction
/in Home Page news feed, NewsDigital construction is at the forefront of the UK’s overarching Industrial Strategy. With an abundance of digital solutions available to streamline project management and workflow, which measures can be taken to assure there are sufficient skilled employees to use them and secure the construction industry’s future?
Attracting younger generations
At present, it is estimated that 22% of the construction industry’s current workforce is over 50 and 15% is over 60; startling figures which are indicative of the industry’s ageing workforce. Therefore, as time progresses it is becoming more crucial to identify potential avenues which will attract pools of young people to fill the emerging skills gap.
According to a Redrow report, 52% of young people disregard a career in construction, either because they are simply disinterested or completely unaware of what a career in construction entails. This statistic needs explicating, as it could infer that the current construction industry skills shortage is perpetuated by the multiple misconceptions and misperceptions which have been rife in the industry for a long period of time.
The industry has made significant progression over the past decade, yet the majority of young people unfortunately associate construction with muddy hi-vis vests, dust and little opportunity for development. A misrepresentation that is almost as shocking as the statistic mentioned above: what is it going to take to let young people see how enterprising, innovative and ‘digital’ the construction industry is?
Technology is used throughout our everyday lives, transcending age groups. Even though the construction industry is no exception, it is still perceived as relatively low-tech.
Start with secondary schools
Whilst architecture university degrees are prolific in the education of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other digital construction solutions, this trend is by no means concurrent with secondary schools. The reasons for this are not necessarily to do with a matter of choice or preference; UK schools are under pressure to offer students – at GCSE particularly – the sought-after STEM subjects which are at the foundation of an industrial, corporate world.
Even though STEM subjects open-up multiple opportunities for young people, the same sentiment applies to the construction industry. For example, digital construction is part of the UK’s wider Industrial Strategy, where the creation of software such as BIM has generated jobs requiring a high level of technical education and skills which form the base of ‘STEM careers’.
An example would be the use of augmented reality across construction projects. Although the technology is in its early stages, augmented reality (AR) is radically changing the building process, described as a way to visualise, manage and coordinate data throughout a building’s lifecycle. AR creates a virtual 3D structure of a building, providing important data about each component that can be accessed pre, during and post construction. Therefore, as this working method continues to develop, complementary skillsets will have to be nurtured within client organisations to ensure the software can be operated and utilised efficiently by Operations and FM teams.
Digital construction in action
A few years ago the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) developed ‘Craft Your Future’, a programme for 12-14 year olds which is integrated into the computer game Minecraft. Designed to encourage young people to consider careers in city planning, construction management and more, ‘Craft Your Future’ is a virtual solution which gives young people crucial insight into the real-time operation of a construction project.
Whilst ‘Craft Your Future’ may be playing a vital role in addressing the future skills gap and labour shortages, the industry in its present state has more pressing concerns. It is widely known that throughout the industry there is a reluctance to adopt digital solutions. Bodies such as the UK BIM Alliance – which GroupBC is a patron of – educate companies on the benefits of digital construction and aim to ensure a common approach amongst vendors. However, much needs to be achieved to counteract this unproductive cultural stalemate if the industry is to embrace modern methods of working, such as off-site manufacturing.
Recent initiatives such as reverse mentoring programmes, offered by the likes of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering – in which the more ‘digitally-experienced’ workers are helping senior colleagues transition to digital processes – are softening the alien transition from one way of working to another. As such, these will hopefully provide them with a better understanding of the business benefits of digital technologies.
The initiatives outlined above are just a small portion of the many programmes that are being developed to realise the industry’s digital future. For this reason, the industry would do well to continually develop programmes such as these, headed by inspirational industry specialists who can showcase the excellence, worth and opportunities in digital construction to people of all ages and abilities. Not only will this help close the skills gap, it will ensure construction businesses have enough highly-skilled workers to steer the construction industry into its digital chapter.
Source: UK Construction Media
Zero carbon by 2050?
/in Home Page news feed, NewsThe UK is to become the first G7 nation to set a legally-binding target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Prime Minister Theresa May announced Government will tomorrow lay a statutory instrument before Parliament that will amend the Climate Change Act and introduce a net zero emission target.
Presently the country is committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
According to the Committee on Climate Change, which recommended the move in its recent report, the industry has little more than 10 years to take all new buildings over to net zero carbon if the goal is to be met.
The commitment will also need wholesale changes to energy generating infrastructure and big changes to new buildings and improvements to existing buildings.
This will require a switch away from fossil-fuel based heating, increasing the energy efficiency of the building stock, and improving the energy efficiency of lighting and electrical appliances.
It will also necessitate the widespread use of heat pumps to replace boilers and accelerating district heating and hydrogen technologies.
Julie Hirigoyen, Chief Executive at UKGBC said: “This is a powerful and positive move by the Prime Minister that will give her time in office a legacy beyond Brexit.
“UKGBC knows that the built environment contains some of the biggest opportunities to slash emissions.
“We must accelerate action in all areas including improving the efficiency of our aging building stock, and overcoming the challenge of decarbonising heat.
“To do this, we need to see both policy and industry leadership to ensure the built environment is at the vanguard of emissions reductions. There is no time to lose, now is the time to act.”
Paul Reeve, director of the Electrical Contractors Association, said: “No-one should expect the feat of resolving the UK’s carbon footprint to be anything other than daunting, but the Government has issued a truly remarkable response to the ‘zero carbon’ challenge set out by the CCC in May.
“The task ahead is immense: the UK is drastically short of the infrastructure, supply and installation capacity needed to introduce low-carbon building heating at scale.
“There are also major ‘low carbon’ skills gaps across building design, construction and installation. We also need to ensure that whatever happens in the years ahead delivers the quality and performance necessary for whole-life low carbon buildings.”