As the UK construction industry faces mounting pressure to deliver millions of homes and meet Net Zero goals, Paul Chandler argues that regaining and maintaining public trust is essential – and that transparency, quality and accountability must guide every step of the process
The UK is counting on construction. We need to build 1.5 million homes, make progress on net zero, improve energy security, reduce bills and improve the comfort and health of all. But this is only possible if people trust the industry.
Recent headlines provide a few examples of how this trust could be at risk. The ‘serious and systemic’ problems with poorly installed external wall insulation (EWI) provided under government schemes, mortgage lenders refusing to provide loans on homes with spray foam insulation, and the conclusions of the Grenfell inquiry are giving potential cause for public disillusionment at a time when we can ill afford it.
Creating better buildings is a critical step towards several major national priorities: improving public health, providing more homes and reaching net zero.
Too many people in the UK live in damp, cold and mouldy homes. The detrimental health effects of these conditions are well established. Prioritising a thermally efficient, correctly ventilated building fabric will create warmer homes, improve air quality and reduce the capacity for condensation that causes mould.
Better buildings are not only important for improving public health – they are also crucial for reaching net zero, reducing people’s energy bills and improving the nation’s energy security. Buildings need to consume less energy, and we need to prepare them to maximise the benefits of low and zero carbon technology when it’s introduced.
The government’s ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes in the next five years, along with the anticipated Future Homes Standard, has set the stage for construction to deliver low carbon homes across the UK in huge numbers. Public trust is key to building momentum on retrofitting and meeting the demand for low carbon housing that’s fit for the future.
Better buildings are not only important for improving public health – they are also crucial for reaching net zero, reducing people’s energy bills and improving the nation’s energy security.
Maintaining trust will require action from the whole industry. In concrete terms, our priorities should be to make products for the real world, specify those products pragmatically, install them with care, and, most importantly, find ways to prove quality and demonstrate impact.
Manufacturers should focus on designing products for real-world conditions, whether that means accounting for the realities of onsite practice, durability, or how easy they are to install correctly. Embracing the Code for Construction Product Information (CCPI) is one way manufacturers can ensure they are providing clear, transparent, and verifiable information on how their products should be used and the expected performance. This also assures specifiers and makes it easier for them to choose the right product for the application.
Specification needs to be pragmatic, with building designers choosing materials that are buildable, easy to install and perform well in the real world, not just on paper.
Contractors are constantly under pressure to work quickly and often to a changing schedule. This will always be the nature of the process, but that does not mean compromising on the finished product. Installation can make or break building performance, so following best practice is essential. Contractors must follow manufacturers’ guidelines for installing products and stick carefully to the approved building specification.
These efforts need to be validated by the measurement of building performance. If we want to maintain trust in construction, we need to be able to prove the quality of our work. The technology is there for us to measure performance post-occupancy and regulations such as the Future Homes Standard could introduce this practice more widely. Data will be key to showing the good work we do and demonstrating the positive impact that better buildings can have on people’s lives.
The construction industry will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the UK. By taking proactive steps now, we can demonstrate that construction – done right – is an essential component of the country’s journey to net zero, improved energy security and better living conditions for all.
Paul Chandler is regional marketing director at Knauf Insulation Northern Europe
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