Draft policy fails to deliver

The ECA and the HVCA have criticised the government for failing to go further with its draft strategy for sustainable construction. According to the associations, a lack of suitable incentives and enforcement measures means the draft falls short of requirements.

David Pollock, ECA group chief executive officer, said: “The strategy is undoubtedly a positive move by the government and we welcome the focus on key priority themes, notably climate change and waste.

“However, we feel the strategy does not give the impression that a major step change, notably on reducing carbon emissions, is going to be pushed through by the government or indeed many other key stakeholders.”

The consultation, which closed on 30 November 2007, was launched last July by Stephen Timms, minister of state for competitiveness, with the aim of helping to develop a government and industry strategy on sustainable construction.

The ECA and HVCA feel the government should actively support the uptake of low- and no-carbon technologies and put substantial pressure on the market through fiscal support and incentives.

“The associations are not convinced the draft strategy measures will deliver significant reductions in climate change impacts, which rely greatly on the procurement actions of stakeholders,” says Pollock.

The enforcement of standards has also raised concerns. If they are not enforced, environmental standards encourage a negative market view of how serious the government is about the sustainability agenda. There are already fears that current standards, such as Part L of the Building Regulations, are not enforced sufficiently.

Robert Higgs, chief executive of the HVCA, said: “The HVCA warmly welcomes any moves by the government to push forward with a strategy on construction sustainability.

“We would have preferred, however, to have seen a document with clearer aims and objectives – something tangible to which the industry can truly relate.”