Some Extracts from the Draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction. BuilderScrap analyses responses to the consultation on the draft Strategy for Sustainable Construction. The aim of the consultation was to gather views on the draft Strategy. Responses were received and comments analysed against each of the questions in the consultation document. This extract reflects the views of the respondents.

Question: What other measures should Government be doing to support the construction industry to become more sustainable
this could cover any aspect of the industry and/or any aspect of its supply chains?

1) There was a variety of ideas put forward by respondents to this open question but there were few detailed suggestions. The measures suggested can be approximately grouped under the following headings:

• Fiscal controls 24%
• Regulation 25%
• Coordination of Government initiatives, including procurement 20 %
• Technical standards and benchmarking 25%
• Target Setting 20%
• Training and communication 10%

2). Suggestions in respect of fiscal measures included: direct taxation and tax relief and incentives; reduced interest rates for sustainable projects; the removal of VAT on sustainable products and materials and on Zero Carbon developments and refurbishments; and tax incentives for zero net waste construction sites. Some advocated more focus on existing
buildings and more emphasis on energy efficiency grants and loan guarantees.

3). A proportion of respondents considered that the effective use and enforcement of minimum performance standards, direct regulation (e.g.Building Regulations) and other mandatory initiatives, was essential to create a level playing field. Regulation should not only remove the need for some fiscal incentives and provide confidence for the construction industry to invest in new technologies, but also drive the right behaviours through industry in a timely fashion.

4). Specific measures proposed included:

• Improve the waste management systems in the UK. A working definition of waste or a national framework for risk assessment was important to measure waste minimisation.
• Bring the development of basements within the remit of Permitted
• Ensure post-completion performance measurement and effective application of the polluter pays principle.
• Require post-occupancy evaluation of projects, with a feedback mechanism so that future projects could learn from previous experience.
• Make the Code for Sustainable Homes (and Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) or equivalent) mandatory in April 2008 to secure sustainable measures in larger developments.
• Make the Considerate Constructors Schemes a mandatory requirement.
• Introduce a Code for Sustainable Buildings – covering the non-domestic building stock.
• Make geotechnical ground investigations mandatory for all new developments, including a requirement for those investigations to be managed by competent personnel.

5). The consistency of regulatory enforcement was a strong theme.

6). Some suggested that it was important for Government to take a coordinated and consistent approach to sustainable construction, not only across Government departments but also across national boundaries (i.e. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).

7). Others indicated that there was an overlap between the requirements of Town Planning and Building Regulations which should be addressed.

8). There were suggestions for the appointment of a high profile “champion” to drive the integration and collaboration agenda; for a senior advisory group of Government officials to provide guidance on best practice and on the definition of a “statutory consultee” for planning applications.

9). Some suggested that the development of long term targets would give product manufacturers the incentive to invest in new products and new processes. The more Government could provide clarity as to its long-term investment programmes and strategies, including Business Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW), the clearer the signal to industry to create
efficient supply chains.

10). Other views were that Government procurement should take greater account of the `whole life’ value of the built environment; the importance of local supply chains in reducing transportation emissions and creating more sustainable local communities and the adoption of integrated teams. Those involved in public sector procurement needed the right skills to
deliver this agenda.

11). Suggestions also included that there should be greater standardisation of contracts, processes and designs. Investment programmes in schools, health and transport provided the opportunity for the public sector to set an example. Government should encourage the use of standardised schemes and benchmarks to assess the sustainability and quality of the built environment (e.g. Design Quality Indicators (DQI), BREEAM and Building for Life). The assessment of overall sustainability performance was complex and Government should make (freely) available a single simple source of detailed information and guidance with standardised definitions and metrics, to enable meaningful comparisons between products and processes. More – possibly a significant advertising campaign – was needed to be put in hand to help clients act as informed customers on sustainable construction. There should be significant advertising campaigns for sustainable construction to promote
sustainability to the people making the ‘decision to purchase’.