Construction News Read UK Construction Industry News, Analysis, Opinion and data Construction prospects over the next three years: an uneven recovery
Construction faces a progressive improvement in market conditions over the next three years after the sharp fall in starts during 2023. The recovery will not be evenly spread.
Opinion
A new vision for planning demands a coherent strategy
Roy Pinnock is a partner in the planning and public law team at Dentons How do we change and progress without abandonment and destruction? How many eggs do we break to make the omelette? How do we move from reacting to planning, which involves vision, bravery, risk, commitment, and then…
This is the chance to finally deliver a long-term plan for construction
Grant Findlay is executive managing director – buildings at Sir Robert McAlpine Our sector is an economic bellwether for the UK. The ripples that spread to envelop the global economy often start within – or are at least first felt by – construction. Infrastructure, planning and development were key staples…
Employers could face consequences for firing and rehiring
Ashley Matthews is an associate in the employment team at Thomson Snell & Passmore Despite being a fast-growing sector, construction must contend with a labour shortage, rising material costs and project delays. Costly tribunal claims, loss of staff and reputational damage put unnecessary – and potentially fatal – pressure on…
Earth Overshoot Day: a wake-up call for sustainable action
Laura Perrin is a technical consultant at WPS Compliance Consulting Earth Overshoot Day marks the point each year when humanity’s demand for resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. This year it fell on 1 August. Globally, we have depleted the world’s annual resources in just 214 days.…
Is clean water a proxy for nimbyism?
Rico Wojtulewicz is head of policy and market insight at the National Federation of Builders On 22 July, the Times reported that the government is considering whether development projects will be permitted to secure nutrient-neutrality mitigation during construction, rather than before work begins. While this acknowledges that the existing system is unfair,…
Will Labour’s planning reforms change anything?
Two Labour manifesto pledges will be of great interest to Construction News readers. First: “We will aim to simplify and speed up the planning process for major infrastructure projects of vital national interest.” And second: “Labour will reform the planning system to speed up decision-making, promote the most efficient use…
Planning reforms are the first piece of a bigger placemaking puzzle
Jonathan Parker is development director at framework provider Pagabo The newly elected government’s long-needed planning reforms, with their focus on unlocking development and setting housing targets, have been met with widespread approval. But planning reform is just the start, and development needs to look beyond new homes to wider town…
Infrastructure: the solutions to delivery challenges aren’t always eye-catching
Paul Maile is a partner at Eversheds Sutherland The UK is due an infrastructure revolution. It’s time for a renaissance of public-works building to bring our aged and end-of-life energy, utilities and transport networks into the present century. And to make them fit for the future. The political will is…
Filling the skills gap with the next generation
Matt Voyce is executive director of construction at Quintain The construction industry needs more than a quarter of a million extra workers by 2026. Between 1991 and 2011 the Office for National Statistics tracked a 13 per cent increase in the number of UK construction workers aged 45 and over.…