According to the Construction Products Association (CPA), government is missing many of the construction investment targets it set itself for schools, hospitals and social housing.

The CPA report, Achievable targets 2004: Is government delivering?, says that for some of the last decade the UK has invested less in its built environment than its major European competitors – just 7% of gdp over the last ten years, compared to the European average of 12%. Achievable targets covers a number of key areas including social housing, school buildings and health.

The good news in education is that there has been a rise in construction activity and the number of projects being delivered by PFI. However, the new build target for April 2004 has been missed. The aim was 650 rebuilt or remodelled schools, but only 430 have been completed. The new target is 240 ‘full-service’ schools to be built by 2006.

The healthcare sector has seen an increase in the number of hospital schemes reaching final close in 2004. This progress will have to be sustained if the government is to hit its target for the end of the decade. Protracted delays to many of the larger hospital schemes are of particular concern, says the CPA.

The 2004 Spending Review included a commitment to increase social housing provision by 50% to 70 000 homes up to 2007/2008. This falls short of the Barker report’s recommendation for doubling the new provision – but the CPA says it is still a positive move. However, the report expresses concern over the planning system and land availability.

Download the full report from: www.constprod.org.uk/achievabletargets

Source

Building Sustainable Design