Government to pick interim chief construction adviser this summer

The government has said it expects to appoint an interim chief construction adviser this summer.

A progress update on delivery of the 58 recommendations made by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry revealed the government had “started outreach with potential candidates” for the role which will be signed off by deputy prime minister and housing minister Angela Rayner.

The interim choice will work for a fixed period of time on “priority areas such as the design and implementation of the single regulator”, while the government finalises the full responsibilities of the permanent adviser.

A permanent chief construction adviser is expected to be appointed next year.

In advance of the interim’s appointment, the government has made some progress on the inquiry’s recommendation to establish a single regulator for the construction industry.

According to the update, it has “begun to establish the structures to design the single regulator in partnership with industry, residents, regulators and experts,” which will inform the creation of a Regulation of the Built Environment Prospectus, to be published later this year.

>> See also: Has the government sold out on construction products regulation?

This prospectus will set out proposals for the design of the single regulator that will lead to the necessary legislation to establish it “when parliamentary time allows”.

The government’s progress updates for a number of recommendations pointed to Construction Products Reform Green Paper, consultation on which closed nearly two weeks ago.

But the government’s proposed reforms received a dim assessment from Paul Morrell, who served as chief construction adviser before the position was abolished.

Morrell, who conducted a major independent review into the product testing regime along with KC Anneliese Day, said he did not see “any particular sign that it was valued”.

He added: “There’s been very little engagement with government. I mean, extraordinary little engagement. I think we’ve had two meetings since the report was published.”

The next progress report on the implementation of the inquiry recommendations will be in September.