Research into construction should be overseen by the industry itself rather than the government, an influential government report will recommend next week.
The Fairclough review, out next Wednesday, will call for the industry to consolidate research into two main channels: long-term research, which will be overseen by a new industry-led body; and short-term work focusing on sustainability, to be overseen by Sir John Egan’s strategic forum.

It is understood that the review also pushes for the construction industry to get a larger slice of the government’s research and development expenditure to bring the industry in line with other sectors, such as energy and farming.

The review will recommend that research be done through a limited number of centres of excellence based on existing organisations.

Martin Wyatt, BRE chief executive, said: “The review would be looking to set long-term contracts so that the industry can build centres of excellence.”