Environment Agency chairman Sir John Harman attacked small contractors this week for their environmental record.
Harman made the criticisms as he unveiled guidelines to help small and medium-sized businesses working in construction to comply with environmental legislation.

Construction was selected as the first business sector to receive guidelines through the agency's NetRegs website.

Research commissioned in setting up the guidelines showed that 82% of construction companies acknowledge at least one potentially harmful activity on their sites, such as high energy consumption or storing oil or chemicals.

More than 90% of building companies are classified as small or medium-sized.

Harman said the 700 pollution incidents in construction last year was "unacceptably high". He added: "Fly-tipping of waste materials is still commonplace, especially in areas where construction and demolition activities take place."

Research released this week by the British Council of Offices suggests that sustainable development is being hindered by a lack of demand from building occupiers.

Forty developers, investors and architects were surveyed. Nine out 10 respondents said they were undertaking some kind of energy consumption monitoring.